MOSCOW, September 5 (RIA Novosti) - International Information Agency Rossiya Segodnya photojournalist Andrei Stenin did everything possible for the world to see the truth about the tragic events in southeastern Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a telegram to the journalist’s mother.
“Please accept my condolences at this grievous time. We believed that Andrei would return to his family and friends but the tragic news left us no hope. He fulfilled his duties as a journalist and as a human being. He did everything possible for the world to see the truth about the tragic events in the Donetsk Region. We will always cherish the memory of Andrei Stenin,” the telegram said.
A farewell ceremony for Stenin was held Friday at the Rossiya Segodnya international press center for those wishing to pay their last respects to the photographer. The memorial service was held from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Moscow time (06:00 to 08:00 GMT). Stenin was buried at Troyekurovskoye Cemetery in Moscow.
The Russian Investigative Committee said that an attack was carried out by Ukrainian forces on a column of refugees guarded by several eastern Ukraine independence supporters about a month ago. Stenin was in a car that was shot at and torched near Donetsk.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and several other Russian officials have also expressed their condolences over Stenin’s death.
Stenin went missing in eastern Ukraine on August 5. Sources suggested that the Ukrainian military could have detained the journalist, but Kiev has never officially confirmed the information. Several events in support of the journalist were held around the world while his fate remained unknown.
