Prominent Journalist Killed in Car Bombing in Ukraine

[uawchild]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by NancyBlueINOklahoma (a host of the Latest Breaking News forum).

Source: ABC News

MOSCOW-- Ukrainian officials are suggesting that the killing of a prominent journalist by a car bomb today in central Kiev was intended to "destabilize" the country, with some hinting that Russia may have played a role.

Pavel Sheremet died when a bomb that had apparently been placed in his car exploded as he was driving through Ukraine’s capital on his way to work, shocking the country with what is one of the most brazen killings of a reporter there in over a decade.

Sheremet, 44, was a veteran and highly respected reporter, well known as a liberal voice who was often critical of authorities in both Ukraine and Russia. In Kiev, he was a presenter on a radio network and also a reporter for a popular news site, Ukrayinskaya Pravda.

Ukrainian police have said they are investigating whether Sheremet’s murder may have been connected to his work. But officials were also quick to suggest larger motives behind the killing.

“It seems to me that this was done with one goal -- to destabilize the country,” Ukraine’s president Petro Poroshenko said in remarks quoted by the Interfax news agency.
...
The political atmosphere in Ukraine is fraught two years after a revolution toppled the nation's then-president and amid a smoldering civil war in the country's East, where government forces are fighting pro-Russian rebels who are backed by Moscow.

Ukrainian politicians and officials are often quick to blame events at home on Russia, which has deployed special forces in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine’s security forces have previously arrested men in parts other than the East whom they accused of being Russian saboteurs, including some detained for allegedly stockpiling grenades and guns.

But, among Sheremet’s colleagues, there was largely shock and bafflement over who could who had killed him or what the motive could be, with many suggesting the murder was likely connected to his professional activities.
...
Sheremet’s death follows a series of apparently politically-motivated murders in Ukraine. In April 2015, a lawmaker and a pro-Russian journalist were both shot dead in Kiev. More recently, a lawyer representing two Russian military officers captured in eastern Ukraine was found murdered after mysteriously going missing.



Read more: http://abcnews.go.com/International/prominent-journalist-killed-car-bomb-ukraines-capital/story?id=40734613

[Duckhunter935]

1. Another Russian hit

[uawchild]

2. More political murder in Ukraine

"Sheremet’s death follows a series of apparently politically-motivated murders in Ukraine. In April 2015, a lawmaker and a pro-Russian journalist were both shot dead in Kiev. More recently, a lawyer representing two Russian military officers captured in eastern Ukraine was found murdered after mysteriously going missing."

So, one-sided accusations would be, what, inappropriate?

"Although Sheremet was often highly critical of the Russian government, most of his recent work had focused on Ukrainian politics.

Other journalist colleagues and friends of Sheremet suggested in interviews with Ukrainian media that Belorussian authorities could have ordered the killing. Sheremet was a native of Belarus and a longtime, high-profile opponent of the regime there. He ran an opposition website, Belarus Partisan, that has posted articles critical of Belorussian president, Aleksander Lukashenko."

So, we have the corrupt Ukrainians, the corrupt Russians, the corrupt Belarus --- take your pick -- they all had possible reasons to off an investigative reporter like him. I have posted information about Russian motives, Ukrainian motives and Belarus motives in the OP and here.

[cloudythescribbler]

3. Am I missing something, or is there some rush to judgment here?

Sure, it COULD be the Russians, or the Belarussians but really, in a country with so many political murders, including of a lot of pro-Russian figures, and all kinds of vile & violent political forces afoot, it seems altogether too convenient for a so quickly pointing a finger apparently at the Kremlin in this.

Obviously, any Ukrainian based networks able to commit this (along with numerous other murders) and get away with it is a political hot potato for the Ukrainian govt in power.

I'd like to see more hard evidence on this

[muriel_volestrangler]

4. duplicate thread of

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141524384

[OKNancy]

5. Locking as a duplicate... also too many paragraphs copied

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10141524384