Journalist and founder of the online publication “New Region” Alexander Shchetinin was found dead with a gunshot wound in Kyiv. Medical examiners found no signs of violent crime.
The information came on Sunday, August 28, from the press-secretary of the Ministry of Internal Affairs Artem Shevchenko. “It was a shot at close range in the right temple from a traumatic gun. According to preliminary data, the victim had suicidal attempts before. But the police investigation continues. Final conclusions will come later,” said Shevchenko.
As chief of Kyiv police Andrei Kryshchenko said on Sunday, law enforcement officers are looking into two main versions of Shchetinin’s death — suicide and homicide due to professional activity. According to Kryshchenko, the circumstances of the incident indicate that Schetinin had committed suicide. “However, until all examinations are finished and all the facts established, police are investigating the case as a case of premeditated murder,” “Interfax-Ukraine” reports.
Alexander Shchetinin was found dead on Saturday evening, 27 August. The journalist was found with a gunshot wound to the head in his apartment, a suicide note was found new the body.
Alexander Schetinin founded the “New Region” agency in 1998. The “New Region” had a network structure – its offices were in many regions of Russia, Ukraine and other countries. In February 2014, Schetinin announced his retirement from the post of chief editor through the pressure of the Russian authorities who did not like how the “New Region” covered the events in Ukraine.
In March 2015, the Russian Supreme Court, on request of the Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Communications, banned the “New Region” operation in the capacity of the mass media outlet.
