Ukraine's prosecutor general said surveillance video examined by investigators show "several people" planting the bomb underneath journalist Pavel Sheremet's car. The native of Belarus, 44, was killed when the explosive was detonated about 7:45 a.m. on July 20 as he drove to work in Kyiv.
"We see several people who were planting the explosive," Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko told a news conference on July 22. "The only thing I can say is that the killer was not alone. This was a group, and we can see part of this group on the video."
A surveillance camera shows the explosion that killed journalist Pavel Sheremet on July 20.
Possible motives
Sheremet’s
professional activity as a journalist is considered the main motive behind his
murder by officials. He worked for Ukrainska Pravda, a leading Ukrainian online
news site, for the past five years. He also hosted a weekday morning political
talk show on Radio Vesti, to which he was driving when he was killed.
“Currently,
the investigation is considering all possible motives, but the key version is
a revenge for Pavlo’s professional work,” Lutsenko told 112 Channel on July 23.
Questioning witnesses, investigating allegations
According
to Lutsenko, investigators have been speaking to witnesses and residents in the
area where the murder happened. The explosion took place on Ivan Franko Street near the intersection with Bohdan Khmelnytskoho Street, not far from Sheremet’s home.
Lutsenko
also added that investigators questioned journalists from 17 Channel, who were
the first reporters at the scene of the murder. They shot footage of how
bystanders took Sheremet from the car just minutes after the explosion.
On July 21, Izvestia
news site published
information alleging that First Deputy Chairman of National Police Vadym Troyan
had been following Sheremet. The Interior Ministry immediately denied the allegation on their
website. Lutsenko later said on July 23 that a criminal
proceeding has been opened relating to this matter.
“All I can tell
you is that we are checking this information. There is a corresponding criminal
proceeding,” Lutsenko said.
Anger over surveillance camera footage
Lutsenko expressed anger on July 23 that the videos from surveillance
cameras before, during and after the murder were published online by some Ukrainian
media outlets. Investigators have yet to
confirm their authenticity.
“When I
found out that the video was released I was very angry… It just kills the
secrecy of the investigation and complicates the task of law enforcement
bodies,” he said. Lutsenko said
that when they determine who leaked the videos, they “will be fired in
disgrace.”
“We are analyzing all the video materials, and not only the footage that you saw on the internet. The only thing I can say is that the killer was not alone. This was a group, and we can see part of this group on the video. We are currently working on establishing the type of explosive… as well as taking other steps regarding the people who were on the site where the explosive was planted,” he said at a press conference in Uzhgorod on July 22.
“We know the car, we see several people who were planting the explosive. Soon, we will have the information about the type of explosive used, which will help investigators track the assassins,” the prosecutor general said.
FBI assistance
The U.S. law enforcement agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, is assisting.
“A meeting
with representatives of the FBI has just finished. They will assist the
investigation,” Chief of National Police Khatia Dekanoidze confirmed on her
Facebook page on July 21.
The FBI
will help their Ukrainian partners to find out more about the type of
explosives and the device which was attached to the vehicle.
“On Monday (July 25), we planned to hear the
first results from the FBI, whose experts examined the explosives and mechanics
of the device,” Lutsenko said.
Sheremet
was buried in his native city of Minsk on July 23. For the last 16 years,
Sheremet has worked in Moscow and Kyiv because of political persecution from
the authorities in Belarus after his colleague and cameraman Dmitry Zavadsky disappeared in suspicious circumstances in 2000.
