This dramatic turn of events has very much sparked controversy; with Ukrainian authorities being fiercely criticised for establishing the plan to fake Mr Babchenko’s death. According to sources, the plan to fake the journalist’s death had been in motion for two months.
In defending the nation of Ukraine, the country’s head of security Vasyl Hrytsak said that Mr Babchenko’s death had to be faked in order to expose any Russian agents that are planning to murder the journalist.
Mr Babchenko is seen as a prominent hate figure in the Russian capital of Moscow. Writing as a Kremlin critic, the journalist asserts no hesitation in informing the world about Russian’s corrupt ideologies, describing the nation as an “aggressor”.
Mr Babchenko himself has been receiving an alarming number of death threats recently. Therefore, for necessary security reasons, the journalist had no choice but to “die” in the public eye.
Police have disclosed that they have made one successful arrest in relation to Mr Babchenko’s faked death.
As for Mr Babchenko himself, the journalist issued a formal apology to a room full of stunned press at the conference. He stated:
“I have been forced to bury my friends and colleagues many times and I know the sickening feeling.”
The Russian journalist also issued an apology to his wife, who was initially too grief-striken to speak about her husband’s death.
“Special apologies to my wife, Olechka, there was no other option,”
Mr Babchenko comes clean about the plan to fake his death. Source – Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
What has been the global reaction in the aftermath of Mr Babchenko’s ‘resurrection’?
Nevertheless, the country of Ukraine is still being criticised for constructing such a deception.
Maria Zakharova, Russian’s foreign ministry spokeswoman, coined the plan to stage Mr Babchenko’s death as “a masquerade” done for “propagandistic effect”.
Furthermore, OSCE’s representative on the freedom of media Harlem Desir said: "I deplore the decision to spread false information on the life of a journalist. It is the duty of the state to provide correct information to the public."
Christophe Deloire, Director general of Reporters Without Borders, stated that: "It is always very dangerous for states to play with facts and especially on the backs of journalists."
All of these criticisms seem to be predominately directed at the fact that Ukraine seems to undermine the integrity of journalists themselves.
What is the wider story?
In recent years, there have been a number of high-profile murders in Kiev, as outlined below:
- June 2017: Col Maxim Shapoval, a Ukrainian military intelligence officer, was killed in a car bomb.
- March 2017: Denis Voronenkov, a former Russian MP, was shot dead outside a hotel.
- July 2016: Pavel Sheremet, Belarusian journalist and Kremlin critic, was pronounced dead as a result of another car bomb.
- Aoril 2015: Oles Buzyna, Ukrainian journalist known for his pro-Russian views, was also shot dead outside his home.
It is therefore clear that the murdering of these professionals is getting out of hand in Ukraine. Therefore, one can guess why action needed to have been taken in the case of Mr Babchenko.
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