On Wednesday morning, the AP referred to it as a "brazen killing." Hours later, it reported a shocker: that Russian journalist Arkady Babchenko, who was reportedly shot dead in Kiev on Tuesday, is actually alive. He showed up at a news conference in Ukraine. The initial reports into Babchenko's "death" said his wife found him bleeding in their Kiev apartment building with multiple gunshot wounds to the back; police confirmed that he died en route to a hospital. "I'm still alive," he announced instead upon appearing, explaining it was all part of a plot to catch those who allegedly plotted to kill him. How things unfolded:
- Vasily Gritsak, head of the Ukrainian Security Service, had organized the news conference under the auspices of revealing updates on the investigation into Babchenko's murder. The AP reports Gritsak then "confused everyone" by inviting Babchenko into the room, and that gasps and applause followed, as well as apologies. "I know that sickening feeling when you bury a colleague. I'm sorry you had to go through this but there was no other way," said the journalist.