War in Ukraine - Prominent politician in Western Ukraine shot dead
In the western part of Ukraine, the formerly parliamentarian Iryna Farion, known for her anti-Russian statements, was shot in the head and died in Lviv (Lemberg) hospital. The 60-year-old succumbed to her injuries. The police and intelligence service personnel are searching for the perpetrator, said Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko. Farion had mainly fought against the widespread Russian language with radical statements. Her right-nationalist Swoboda party suspects a Russian trace in the murder case.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack on Farion and instructed Interior Minister Klymenko and Security Service Chief Vasyl Malyuk to solve the crime. The perpetrators must be held accountable, the head of state said. Farion was critically wounded by a shot to the temple near her house on Friday evening. Doctors in the hospital fought in vain to save her life.
Possible Russian trace and satisfaction in Moscow
Interior Minister Klymenko sees a connection between the murder and Farion's social and political activities. "The primary versions being considered are personal enmity, social and political activities of Mrs. Farion. We cannot rule out an assassination order," wrote the Minister on Telegram. He also did not rule out a Russian trace.
Farion had conflicts with the Ukrainian justice system due to statements against the Russian-speaking population. She temporarily lost her position at the university where she taught Ukrainian philology due to protests from students. The professor, among other things, sharply criticized that many Ukrainian soldiers at the front continued to speak Russian. For the fight against the Russian aggression war, she bought drones herself, according to her own statements.
Farion was often criticized for dividing Ukrainian society. However, the Russian state propaganda welcomed the news of the politician's death with satisfaction. "Iryna Farion, who dreamed of the 'complete elimination' of the Russian-speaking population, has been eliminated. God settles things there without us," wrote the editor-in-chief of the Russian state television channel RT, Margarita Simonyan.
- The murder of Iryna Farion in Lviv has sparked concerns about increasing conflicts related to language and politics in Western Ukraine.
- The police in Western Ukraine are facing a challenging investigation, as they search for a criminal with potential ties to Russia due to Farion's anti-Russian stance.
- Ihor Klymenko, the prominent Ukrainian Interior Minister, emphasized that the motive behind Farion's death could be either personal enmity or her strong political activities.
- The Swoboda party, led by Farion, suspects that her murder might be a result of Russian criminality, given her notable opposition to the Russian influence in Ukraine.
- The news of Farion's death has gained attention in Western capitals, with some Western leaders expressing their concern over the rise of tensions in Ukraine related to the Russian language and political affiliations.
- Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, has vowed to find and punish those responsible for the heinous crime against Farion, reaffirming his commitment to protecting the peace and stability of Ukrainian society.
- In the aftermath of Farion's death, the Russian state media has been accused of glorifying her assassination, portraying it as a form of divine retribution against her anti-Russian stance and promotion of Ukrainian nationalism.
