Prominent journalist killed by car bomb in Kyiv

Journalist Pavel Sheremet, a citizen of Belarus, was killed this morning by a car bomb that detonated in central Kyiv as he was driving. Sheremet had worked in Ukraine for the last five years in support of Ukraine’s Western integration, writing about politics for the pravda.com.ua news site and serving as a host on the Radio Vesti station. Sheremet was driving in a car owned by Olena Prytula, the former chief editor of the pravda.com.ua news site, who was not present. National Police Chief Khatiya Dekanoyidze said investigating his murder would a matter of honor for her.

Zenon Zawada: Sheremet’s murder has the potential to resonate as strongly, both in Ukraine and globally, as the killing of another prominent journalist, Georgiy Gongadze in 2001, which sparked mass protests. It will negatively reflect upon the current government, regardless of who is determined to be culpable, for failing to implement enough security measures to ensure the safety of journalists. The extent of the impact of the murder on the current government will depend on the details that emerge in the following days.