A Funeral Banquet for the Dead: Ukrainian SBU Put on Quite a Performance for Babchenko

— Here's Babchenko's photo being removed from the wall. Roman, please, you're the only one who can explain. They actually had the funeral feast planned.

Roman Tsimbalyuk, journalist: I'm happy, I think it's great news. You may have your own opinion but I believe that the Ukrainian police have made us a pleasant surprise. We actually thought our friend was dead.

— They were the ones who faked his death though.

— It feels as if he actually resurrected from the dead. I don't know how to morally assess…

—Try to use your common sense.

 

— ...their special operation. There's a war going on between our countries, that's an unspoken fact. There have been multiple terrorist attacks in Kiev with suspected Russia's involvement. This fact hasn't yet been proven wrong.

— Or right.

— Journalists, soldiers, and many others were killed. Our special services saved one person's life the Russian citizen Arkady Babchenko in this case and that's praiseworthy. I believe this journalist, my friend, is doing a very important thing and for Russia too because there are too few people here who critically analyze what's happening in Ukraine. Perhaps in several years, Russians will treat his articles differently. Anyway, I congratulate you all…

— What are his articles about? What are they about, Roman? The one on Tu-154, for instance.

— He calls a spade a spade. He's one of the few Russians who's not afraid to write about the war and the annexation and occupation of Crimea.

— And dance on the corpses of the people?

— He's not afraid to write about the Russian military in Donbas. Regarding the crashed aircraft, it's his personal position and I wouldn't…

— Dances on corpses.

— I wouldn't support dancing on corpses. If a person dies the Slavic tradition tells us to write either good or bad about them...

— Good or nothing.

— Yes, good or nothing, thank you. ...regardless of what side they were on and what they were doing.

— "Do I feel sympathy for the death of 80 Ministry of Defense officers from the mad quasi-empire that orchestrated Stalingrad and Kursk battle in what used to be a fraternal nation?" Mr. Babchenko proceeds to write that he's infinitely happy and feels no regret. Just one of the episodes. He also wrote about Abrams tanks he wanted to ride across the Tverskaya Street.

— He's not happy, he doesn't care

— Still, journalists tried to pick the right words when writing his obituaries. The Russian reaction also surprised us.

— Look, he writes: "I've got neither sympathy nor mercy, I don't express my condolences".

— Of course, that's a well-known fact.

— We'll let you comment on that, Nikolai. But let Roman finish first. We're all shocked. You've got a sly smile on your face.

— A nervous one.

— Yes, a nervous one. We can't fully comprehend what just happened. Let's listen to the CNN, here's kind of a reaction takeaway.

— A story we aired just minutes ago: The anti-Kremlin journalist reportedly murdered in Kiev is actually alive. Fred Pleitgen is joining us from Moscow. OK, what's going on here, Fred?

— It seems like a crazy turn of events. It seems to be the part of the operation of the Ukrainian intelligence SBU. The information Ukraine shared throughout the day turns out false. He wasn't dead. He was under the protection of the SBU. He hadn't been murdered on his doorstep, as the Ukrainian media reported earlier. It appears that the Russians were speaking the truth. They are innocent. They were unfairly accused of the murder by the Ukrainian Prime Minister, among others.”

— Even the CNN said it. Although this guy never labels anything.

Nikolai Platoshkin, political science professor: Ukraine has some rookie-level provocations. The SBU should learn from their elders. Skripal's case was a solid one. A mysterious Novichok gas. Versace Hazmat suits. A chiffon dress. Keep up with the Joneses. Their provocations are plain silly. I suggest the SBU watch some Hollywood movies because it seems they've seen only Viy and Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka.

—Classics.

Roman Tsimbalyuk, journalist: You know, writing is what journalists do. I believe various people might treat his resurrection differently but the SBU must continue to guard Babchenko since they brought him from the dead.

— He actually does have bodyguards now.

— We don't know how people might react to the situation. Because his work, his opinion, and his position regarding the Russian government are different from the majority of the Russian population, to put it mildly.

— He doesn't have a position. He just mocks the dead. You can't disagree, can you?

— But he makes no bones about the war in Ukraine.

— But you also believe you make no bones about it. Nobody stops you from doing that. People might criticize you but I hope that you feel safe in Russia and that nothing bad will happen to you. That's the thing.

— When something like this happens, everyone happily congratulates the special services. You might think it's all a show but I wouldn't say so. So let them bring…

— Did they prove you it's not a show?

— Give them time, we've just celebrated the resurrection and you're already asking for proof. Moreover, in this situation…

— Do you have an issue with shows?

— It's clear that both sides have their doubts.

— Lesya Ukrainka and Franko theaters in Kiev make great shows. However, we didn't know that the SBU and Ukraine's Prosecutor's Office also organized performances.