LATEST UPDATE: Russian journalist Arkady Babchenko, who was reportedly killed in Kyiv, is alive and well. According to Ukrainian authorities, the incident was part of an ongoing investigation.

OSCE Representative strongly condemns murder of journalist Arkadiy Babchenko in Ukraine and calls for swift and complete investigation

VIENNA, 29 May 2018 – OSCE media freedom representative Harlem Désir today strongly condemned the murder of a well-known Russian journalist and writer Arkadiy Babchenko in Kyiv, Ukraine.

This evening, Babchenko, a journalist with ATR television channel and a founder of the project Journalism Without Intermediaries, was shot dead in front of his apartment.

“I am outraged by this horrific act," said Désir. "I call on the authorities to swiftly and thoroughly investigate the circumstances of this assassination and to bring the perpetrators and those who ordered it to justice.”

“My sincere condolences go out to Babchenko’s family, friends and colleagues,” concluded Désir.

Babchenko worked as a journalist and a war correspondent for various media outlets, including Moskovskiy Komsomolets and Novaya Gazeta newspapers, during his career. He has also published in The Guardian. After receiving threats he left Russia in 2017 for Prague and then Kyiv.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.