EU 'relieved' that Babchenko is alive - May. 31, 2018

EU ‘relieved’ that Babchenko is alive

By Iryna Somer.

Published May 31, 2018 at 6:18 pm

A file picture provided on May 29, 2018 shows Russian journalist Arkadiy Babchenko on January 22, 2014 during Maidan events in Kiev. Ukraine was under fire on May 31, 2018 after it admitted staging the murder of anti-Kremlin journalist Arkady Babchenko, despite relief in Russia and Ukraine that he was alive. Babchenko made a shock reappearance at a press conference in Kiev on May 30, 2018, less than 24 hours after the Ukrainian authorities reported he had been shot dead at his home in a contract-style killing blamed on Russia. / AFP PHOTO / Vasily MAXIMOV

Photo by AFP

BRUSSELS — European Union “relieved” that Arkady Babchenko is alive.

The spokesperson for EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Maja Kocjancic, made the following statement:

“We have been in touch with our Ukrainian friends to clarify what took place. First and foremost, we are relieved that Arkady Babchenko is alive. Freedom of expression, and particularly the work of journalists, need to be protected. Ukraine is faced with a particular security challenge, as evidenced by the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol and the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Ukraine, like every sovereign state, has a right to ensure its national security and protect those living in its territory,” said the spokesperson.

She recalled that the EU Advisory Mission Ukraine assists the Ukrainian authorities in reforming the civilian security sector through strategic advice and practical support for specific reform measures.

“This operation was conducted by the Ukrainian Security Service and did not involve EUAM,” Kocjancic added.