Sheremet Murder: FBI Technology May Help to Identify Suspects

The National Police requested the FBI to help identify persons who planted the bomb in the car of Ukrayinska Pravda journalist Pavel Sheremet, Police Deputy Chief Vadym Troyan told Ukrayinska Pravda.

"We contacted the FBI and they promised to help with identifying suspects. They have better software for searching and identification of faces," he said.

He also informed that the FBI would provide findings of the explosive test within a month. "Experts received information on composition of the explosive but did not find out thus far how it exploded," Troyan explained.

He also provided more information on four enquiry lines of the investigation.

"First is the Russian involvement. It could concern Sheremet’s previous work in Russia or a provocation against Ukraine. The second is the ‘Ukrainian’ version. We check individuals and groups that Ukrayinska Pravda was reporting about. It’s extremely important to learn who might benefit from this murder. Thirdly, we investigate personal relationships. In particular, we are trying to find out whether it could be an attack against the Founding Editor of Ukrayinska Pravda Olena Prytula. Finally, we also consider that they are bigots from the occupied territories or wherever who could be behind this murder," Troyan specified.

He also told that the investigation received more video records, so that it is better aware of how the suspects moved.

Troyan also said he had provided all explanations with regard to the alleged surveillance of Sheremet by police before the attack.

Pavel Sheremet died on the morning of July 20, 2016 after his car, which was owned by the Founding Editor of Ukrayinska Pravda Olena Prytula, exploded. Prosecutor General Yuriy Lutsenko named the professional activity of Sheremet as the main motive of the assassination.

On July 22, mass media published a video of the alleged planting of the bomb which killed Sheremet.

On August 4, the investigators informed that some 500 witnesses were interrogated, around 150 CCTV cameras were seized and over 140 TB of information were gathered. They also asked for help in finding witnesses in this case. The Interior Minister Arsen Avakov said that the police was ready to pay ₴200,000 for any information in the Sheremet case that would lead to solving the crime.

Source: Oksana Kovalenko, Ukrayinska Pravda