Ukraine journalist Oles Buzina killed by masked gunmen in Kiev: interior ministry

Source: Reuters

Ukraine journalist Oles Buzina killed by masked gunmen in Kiev: interior ministry

Kiev: A prominent Ukrainian journalist known for his pro-Russian views has been shot dead in Kiev by two masked gunmen, the interior ministry said, a day after a former lawmaker loyal to ousted President Viktor Yanukovych was also killed.

Oles Buzina, 45, was known for his pro-Russian opinion pieces published in Ukraine's Sevodnya daily newspaper, which is part of the media empire of Ukraine's richest businessman Rinat Akhmetov. He ran in last year's election for a parliamentary seat for the Russian Bloc party, but was not elected.

"Two unidentifiable men in masks shot journalist Oles Buzina," the ministry said in an online statement. The shooting appeared to have taken place outside his home and a team of police investigators was at the scene.


Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/ukraine-journalist-oles-buzina-killed-by-masked-gunmen-in-kiev-interior-ministry-20150416-1mmvgl.html

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Who Are Oles Buzina And Sergey Sukhobok? 2 Pro-Russian Ukrainian Journalists Killed In Kiev

By Bruce Wright @bctw on April 16 2015 10:29 AM EDT



Two pro-Russian journalists from Ukraine were shot dead this week in their native country, with at least one of the deaths happening Thursday. Oles Buzina, a news editor, was killed Thursday afternoon. Sergey Sukhobok, who was an oppositionist known for his pro-Russian views, was also killed, though it is unclear exactly when he died because of conflicting reports. Both were prominent figures in the country’s journalism scene.

Buzina, 45, who in addition to his journalism was renowned for his work as an author and a TV presenter, was killed while jogging on a street near his Kiev home Thursday afternoon, local time. Ukraine’s Interior Ministry adviser Anton Geraschenko characterized it as murder, reported the Segodnya newspaper in Ukraine. Geraschenko reportedly wrote a Facebook post indicating that Buzina was killed after being shot from a blue sedan with foreign license plates.

The Interior Ministry later reported that two masked men were responsible for the killing and that an investigation was being led by Interior Minister of Ukraine Vasyl Pascal. Buzina, who would frequently publish pro-Russia opinion pieces, and resigned last month as editor-in-chief of the Segodnya over censorship.

Sukhobok, who suffered a similar fate in Kiev, was either killed Monday or hours earlier than Buzina Thursday. He was known for his outspoken, oppositionist views that sympathized with Russia, according to local publication Novorussia. Details are scarce on how he was killed, and police had not issued a comment about his death. Sukhobok, 50, founded Ukrainian news websites ProUA and Okbom. His funeral is scheduled for Friday and in Poltava where his family lives, according to an obituary published in Okbom, which said he was killed Monday. However, Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty reported Sukhobok was killed Thursday.