‘Dead’ Russian journalist Arkady Babchenko back to life as he reveals officials faked his death ‘to catch a real killer hired by Russian security services’
Babchenko, who had been reported shot and killed in Ukraine on Tuesday, has shown up alive, with Ukranian officials saying his ‘death’ was a trap for a Russian security service assassin
Russian journalist Arkady Babchenko, who had been reported shot and killed in the Ukrainian capital on Tuesday, has shown up at a news conference very much alive.
Vasily Gritsak, head of the Ukrainian Security Service, told a news conference on Wednesday in Kiev that the agency faked Babchenko’s death to catch those who were trying to kill him – with Russian security services identified by Ukrainian authorities as the group that ordered the assassination.
Kiev and national police had said Babchenko, a strong critic of the Kremlin, was shot multiple times in the back at his flat building and found bleeding by his wife.
Gritsak first announced at the news conference that the security agency and the police had solved Babchenko’s slaying. He then startled everyone there by inviting the 41-year-old reporter into the room.
To the applause and gasps of the press, Babchenko took the floor and apologised to the friends and family who mourned for him and were unaware of the plan.
“I’m still alive,” he said.
Before ushering Babchenko into the room, Gritsak said investigators had identified a Ukrainian citizen who had been recruited and paid US$40,000 by the Russian security service to organise and carry out the killing.
