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OSCE condemns journalist murder in Kiev, calls for thorough investigation

VIENNA, July 20. /TASS/. OSCE media freedom representative Dunja Mijatovic has condemned the murder of journalist Pavel Sheremet.

"This killing and its circumstances must be swiftly and thoroughly investigated, and the perpetrators brought to justice," Mijatovic said. "This morning’s gruesome incident reminds us all that the safety situation for journalists in Ukraine must be addressed effectively and timely," she added.

Mijatovic recalled the murder of the prominent Ukrainian journalist Georgyi Gongadze in 2001, the founder of Ukrainskaya Pravda.

"We have lost a prominent and dedicated journalist and my sincere condolences go out to Sheremet’s family, friends and colleagues," the OSCE representative noted.

It was earlier reported that Pavel Sheremet, a renowned journalist, had been killed in downtown Kiev. The automobile that Sheremet was sitting in belonged to Yelena Pritula, head of Ukrainskaya Pravda newspaper. However, she was not in the car at the time of the blast. The vehicle blew up at the corner of Bogdan Khmelnitsky and Ivan Franko streets. At this time, Kiev police have preliminarily classified this crime as premeditated murder.