Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, on Thursday accused opposition figure Mikhail Khodorkovsky and the media outlet he backed, Investigations Management Centre (TsUR), of irresponsible behavior and lies in the case of the murder of three Russian journalists in the Central African Republic (CAR).
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 30th August, 2018) Maria Zakharova, the spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, on Thursday accused opposition figure Mikhail Khodorkovsky and the media outlet he backed, Investigations Management Centre (TsUR), of irresponsible behavior and lies in the case of the murder of three Russian journalists in the Central African Republic (CAR).
On Wednesday, Khodorkovsky said he was withdrawing his support for the center and added that he had compensated the money spent by the French embassy on the transportation of the bodies of the three journalists back to Russia.
"I am so tired of all these lies by the TsUR and its sponsors! ... Yet another irresponsible statement. As far as I know, Khodorkovsky compensated the money spent by the French embassy on two coffins: they simply had those available. As for the transportation of the bodies themselves, it was paid for NOT by Khodorskovsky and NOT by his organization. Our embassy found the money," Zakharova wrote on Facebook.
According to the Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, the expenses amounted to about $20,000, while Khodorkovsky or some entities linked to him compensated about $3,500.
"[The families of the deceased] thanked our diplomats. It was probably one of the most important calls in my career," Zakharova said.
TsUR, which sent Orkhan Dzhemal, Kirill Radchenko and Alexander Rastorguyev to the car to shoot a documentary, announced Wednesday it would shut down.
The journalists were fatally shot on July 30. The Russian Investigative Committee has launched an investigation into the murder.
