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Kiev suggests "Russian footprint" in journalist Sheremet’s murder

The Ukrainian Interior Ministry lists alleged "Russian footprint" among three main motives for the murder of the famous journalist in Kiev

KIEV, July 20. /TASS/. There are three main motives for killing journalist Pavel Sheremet, including alleged "Russian footprint," the Ukrainian Interior Ministry said on Wednesday.

"The main possible motive is first of all the journalist’s professional activities," advisor to Ukrainian Interior Minister Zoryan Shkiryak said. "We also do not rule out the motive of peronal enmity, it is often used. Other motives may also be considered but I would personally want to support (advisor to Ukrainian Interior Minister Anton) Geraschenko and note that the Russian footprint cannot be ruled out," he added.

Deteriorating situation in Donbass can also serve as evidence of the alleged "Russian footprint," he added. The cross procession initiated by the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) also gives grounds to consider this, Shkiryak noted.

Well-known journalist Pavel Sheremet was killed in central Kiev in the morning. An explosive device detonated in the car he was driving. Police preliminarily classified Sheremet’s death as premeditated murder.

Pavel Sheremet was born in Minsk on November 28, 1971. In 1998, he took a job as a special correspondent of the Novosti program on Russia’s ORT TV channel and in January 1999 took the post of the managing editor of the Russian and foreign bureau of the TV channel’s information programs. He worked as a presenter in the weekly analytical program Vremya.

Since 2009 he worked as an editor for politics and society in the Ogonyok magazine. For the past five years, Sheremet has lived in Kiev, working in the Ukrainskaya Pradva newspaper, as well as an anchorman on the Vesti radio.