MOSCOW, May 29 (RAPSI) – The Investigative Committee of Russia has launched a criminal case over murder of Russian citizen, prominent journalist Arcady Babchenko, who was shot in Kiev on Tuesday, the press-service of the Committee has stated.

According to preliminary data of Ukraine’s national police, Babchenko died after he was shot in the back. His wife turned to law enforcement saying that she found her wounded husband at their home. Reportedly, he died in an ambulance on the way to a hospital.

Chairman of Russia's Presidential Council for Human Rights Mikhail Fedotov said that Babchenko was an experienced warzone journalist, who had his own worldview and critical perspective on Russian politics. His murder was a provocation, Fedotov added.

Arcady Babchenko was a Russian writer, journalist and warzone reporter, who worked for leading media of the country such as the First Channel and Novaya Gazeta. According to open sources, Babchenko lived in Kiev since 2017 and was a host of a program at the Crimean Tatar TV channel ATR.