Ukrainian website Obozrevatel has released footage of two people supposedly planting the car bomb that killed journalist Pavel Sheremet in Kiev on Wednesday. The Ukrainian weekly Zerkalo Nedeli earlier reported that law enforcement are looking into surveillance footage from July 19, the night before Sheremet’s death. The footage, which has not been verified, apparently shows a woman, together with a male accomplice, planting the bomb in a car used by Sheremet.
Sheremet died when the bomb went off during his morning work commute in central Kiev.
The car he was driving belongs to his partner and colleague, Ukrainskaya Pravda editor Olena Prytula. Law enforcement are investigating the possibility that she was the target of the attack, as well as several other theories.
The investigators’ preliminary evidence from the blast points to Sheremet being the target, Zerkalo Nedeli reported Thursday. “It was carefully calculated — there were exactly enough explosives to hit the driver and not hit anyone nearby,” the source said, noting that any passengers would have probably survived.
Sheremet and Prytula had both complained about being followed for long before the attack, friends of the pair told The Moscow Times. Many have since linked his death to his professional work. The FBI and Europol are assisting Ukrainian law enforcement in their investigation.
A memorial service for Sheremet was held on Friday afternoon in Kiev. He will be buried in his hometown of Minsk on Saturday.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.