The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation will help Ukrainian authorities investigate the murder of prominent journalist Pavel Sheremet, State Department spokesman John Kirby said.
Sheremet was killed on July 20 when the car he was driving was destroyed by a bomb in downtown Kyiv, Ukraine. Kirby said the U.S. supports the government of Ukraine as it conducts a full and impartial investigation into the murder.
“Mr. Sheremet’s killing must not be tolerated in a free and democratic society,” Kirby said.
The European Union’s law enforcement agency Europol is also expected to join the investigation. EU spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic pledged support to Ukraine in protecting journalists “in their essential, professional work.”
Grieving for a reporter
Sheremet, who was born in Belarus and reported for the news website Ukrayinska Pravda, was a “fearless practitioner and supporter of freedom of speech, the Revolution of Dignity, and a brighter future for Ukraine,” read a statement by the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv.
U.S. Permanent Representative to the U.N. Samantha Power extended sympathies to the family and friends of “one of Ukraine’s leading journalists” and to “all the Ukrainians who won’t benefit from his incredible efforts to hold government and other actors accountable.”
Terrible loss–journo @PavelSheremet murdered in horrific #Ukraine blast. Killers must be found&punished. pic.twitter.com/89UP97pOXA
— Samantha Power (@AmbPower44) July 20, 2016