This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/26/world/europe/ukraine-russia-yuri-grabovsky.html

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Lawyer Defending Russian Soldier in Ukraine Is Found Dead Lawyer Defending Russian Soldier in Ukraine Is Found Dead
(about 7 hours later)
MOSCOW — A Ukrainian lawyer, who was defending one of the Russian servicemen currently on trial in Ukraine, was found dead on Friday, a government official said during a televised news conference in Kiev. MOSCOW — A Ukrainian lawyer who was defending one of the Russian servicemen currently on trial in Ukraine was found dead on Friday, a government official said during a news conference in Kiev, Ukraine’s capital.
Anatoly V. Matios, Ukraine’s chief military prosecutor, said the body of the lawyer, Yuri L. Grabovsky, was buried in an abandoned garden south of Kiev, the capital, with signs of a violent death and a gunshot wound. The official, Anatoly V. Matios, Ukraine’s chief military prosecutor, said the body of the lawyer, Yuri L. Grabovsky, was buried in an abandoned garden south of Kiev with signs of a violent death and a gunshot wound.
Mr. Grabovsky was representing Aleksandr A. Aleksandrov, one of two Russian servicemen detained by Ukrainian military officers in the country’s east at a time of heavy fighting there in May 2015. Mr. Grabovsky was representing Aleksandr A. Aleksandrov, one of two Russian servicemen detained by the Ukrainian military in the country’s east in May.
Ukrainian officials claimed the two were Russian officers on a military mission in Ukraine, but Moscow said they had resigned from active duty. In a video statement published by the Security Service of Ukraine, Mr. Aleksandrov admitted that he was on a reconnaissance mission in Ukraine at the time of his detention. Ukrainian officials claimed the two were Russian officers on a military mission in Ukraine, but Moscow said they had resigned from active duty. In a video statement published by the Security Service of Ukraine, Mr. Aleksandrov admitted that he was on a reconnaissance mission in Ukraine at the time.
The politically charged case further strained ties between Moscow and Kiev. The politically charged case has further strained ties between Moscow and Kiev.
Two unidentified suspects were detained over Mr. Grabovsky’s murder. One of them helped investigators locate the body. Mr. Matios said one suspect had a fake Ukrainian passport and fake credentials for a member of Ukrainian law enforcement agencies. Two unidentified suspects were detained, and one of them helped investigators find the body. Mr. Matios said one suspect had fake Ukrainian identification documents and credentials.
Mr. Grabovsky disappeared on March 5. The captors made him wear a special bracelet, telling him it would explode if he tried to escape or reach out for help, the military prosecutor said. They also posted messages in Mr. Grabovsky’s Facebook account. One post claimed he had left for Egypt and had to leave Ukraine “against his will,” but Mr. Grabovsky never left the country. Mr. Grabovsky disappeared on March 5. The captors made him wear a special bracelet, telling him that it would explode if he tried to escape or reach out for help, the military prosecutor said. They also posted messages in Mr. Grabovsky’s Facebook account. One post claimed he had left for Egypt and had to leave Ukraine “against his will,” but he never left the country.
The prosecutor refused to confirm any Russian trace in the murder but said the crime was intensively planned and well financed. In an earlier interview with the Ukrainian news channel 112.ua, Mr. Matios said the operation had been planned by Russian special services. The prosecutor refused to confirm any Russian role in the murder but said it was well planned and well financed. In an interview with the Ukrainian news channel 112.ua, Mr. Matios said the operation had been planned by Russian special services.
The suspicion of Russian involvement comes in part from a belief that Moscow is trying to undermine Ukrainian leadership in Western eyes. Others have suggested that Ukrainian nationalists might be behind the murder. The suspicion of Russian involvement comes in part from a belief that Moscow is trying to undermine Ukraine’s leadership in Western eyes. Others have suggested that Ukrainian nationalists might be responsible.
The Russian Foreign Ministry, in a statement, blamed the Ukrainian authorities for the failure to defend Mr. Grabovsky.
A new lawyer was appointed to defend Mr. Aleksandrov, and the trial is set to continue in April.