EU ‘relieved’ at anti-Kremlin journalist’s dramatic return

The European Parliament President Antonio Tajani said Wednesday he was “relieved” that anti-Kremlin reporter Arkady Babchenko had not been killed, after Ukraine admitted staging the journalist’s murder.

The prominent Russian war correspondent and former soldier appeared at a news conference in Kiev less than 24 hours after authorities said he had died from three gunshots to the back in a contract-style killing.

The head of Ukraine’s security service Vasyl Grytsak said the assassination was faked as part of a “special operation” to pre-empt a real plot to kill him.

Tajani, who had earlier called the supposed murder a “hideous crime”, welcomed the dramatic news that Babchenko was safe and well.

“Relieved to learn that Russian journalist Arkadi Babchenko’s murder was staged by Ukrainian police and that he is alive and taking part to a press conference to explain reasons that forced him to make this up,” Tajani tweeted.

Grytsak announced that the authorities had arrested the alleged mastermind of the plot, saying a Ukrainian citizen had offered to pay a hitman to carry out the killing after being recruited by Russian special forces.

Maja Kocijancic, spokeswoman for EU diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini, echoed Tajani’s reaction.

“Relieved to hear that Mr Babchenko is alive. We are following the actions of the Ukrainian authorities and are looking forward to further details on this case,” she tweeted.