Murder staged
Russian journalist Arkady Babchenko (above) turned up at a news conference in the Ukrainian capital, less than 24 hours after police reported he had been killed.
RUSSIAN journalist Arkady Babchenko turned up at a news conference in the Ukrainian capital yesterday, less than 24 hours after police reported he had been shot and killed at his Kiev apartment building.
The country’s security services said Mr Babchenko’s death was faked to foil a plot to take his life.
Ukrainian police had said on Tuesday that Mr Babchenko, a strong critic of the Krem- lin, was shot multiple times in the back and found bleeding in the apartment by his wife.
Authorities said they suspected he was killed because of his work.
Vasyl Gritsak, head of the Ukrainian Security Service, announced at a news conference yesterday that the security agency and the police had solved Mr Babchenko’s slaying.
He then startled everyone present by inviting the 41-yearold reporter into the room.
To the applause and gasps of the press, Mr Babchenko took the floor and apologised to his friends and family who mourned for him, including his own wife, and were unaware of the plan.
“I’m still alive,” he said. “Apologies to my wife, Olechka. I’m sorry, but there were no other options.
“The operation was being prepared for two months.
“They told me a month ago. As the result of the operation, a man is taken, he is in custody.”
Intelligence chiefs in Kiev say the Ukrainian assassin recruited by Russian intelligence officials to kill Mr Babchenko had in turn hired an accomplice to act as the gunman – and both had been arrested.
“G” was paid $40,000 to kill Mr Babchenko, 41, and had been in the process of acquiring a vast arsenal of automatic weapons and ammunition when he was taken into custody, according to Ukrainian security officials. “Thanks to this operation we were able to foil a cynical plot and document how the Russian security service was planning for this crime,” Mr Grytsak added.
Meanwhile, emotional video posted by Radio Free Europe shows staffers at Ukrainian TV network ATV cheer, gasp and hug as they watch the press conference where it was revealed Mr Babchenko’s “death” had been staged.