Killed journalist Sheremet buried in Minsk

MINSK, Belarus (AP) – Prominent journalist Pavel Sheremet, who died when his auto was bombed in Ukraine, has been buried in his hometown of Minsk, Belarus. The 44-year-old was buried in his hometown of Minsk, Belarus yesterday.

A memorial service for Sheremet was held on Friday afternoon in Kiev. Authorities have pledged to conduct a thorough and swift investigation, but provided no reason why they think Mr Sheremet was killed.

Residents of the Belarusian capital were bringing flowers to pay their last tribute to the slain journalist.

On Friday the Obozrevatel news website released a video showing a man and a woman walking away from what it said was Mr Sheremet’s vehicle the night before it was blown up.

Sheremet – a Russian national who was born in ex-Soviet Belarus – was respected for criticising both the Kremlin and the mistakes Ukraine has made since severing ties with Moscow in a 2014 pro-EU revolution that was followed by a 27-month eastern separatist revolt.

He began his career in his home country Belarus but left after confronting authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko and moved on to work in Russian Federation and then later Ukraine.

The reporter worked on a radio talk show and news website site Ukrainska Pravda, which is known for its investigative work.

“I know for sure that law enforcement agencies don’t sleep at night in order to solve this monstrous murder and feel they have to do it as soon as possible”, he said in comments carried by the Interfax news agency.