This month, 1,000 people chose to support the Kyiv Independent. Can we count on you, too?
Become a member
Skip to content
Edit post

Thousands mourn slain ex-MP at memorial service in Lviv

by Abbey Fenbert July 21, 2024 10:24 PM 1 min read
Crowds gather in Lviv to mourn assassinated professor Iryna Farion on July 21, 2024. (Andrii Sadovyi / Telegram) 
This audio is created with AI assistance

Thousands of people gathered at the Saints Peter and Paul Garrison Church in Lviv on July 21 for a memorial service dedicated to Iryna Farion, a former Ukrainian lawmaker and linguist who was assassinated on July 19.

An unidentified man opened fire on Farion, 60, on the street outside her home in Lviv the evening of July 19. She underwent an operation and was pronounced dead later that night.

Farion was a controversial figure, known for her nationalist politics and incendiary statements on the use of the Russian language in Ukraine.

The public service began at 7 p.m. local time and will last until 10 p.m., according to information provided by Farion's daughter, Sofiya Semchyshyn. A funeral for Farion will be held at the Garrison Church on July 22.

Officials are currently investigating the assassination. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 20 that all possible leads are being investigated, and that Russian involvement has not been ruled out.

"All the necessary forces of the National Police of Ukraine and the Security Service of Ukraine have been deployed to search for the criminal," Zelensky said.

Who was Iryna Farion, the nationalist professor-politician assassinated in Lviv?
Despite the contrasting opinions surrounding her life’s work and sometimes contentious public statements, the assassination of linguist and former right-wing lawmaker Iryna Farion on July 19 came as a shock to Ukrainians. Sixty-year-old Farion was shot in the head by an unknown assailant outside of…
Let’s see how far we can go?
We’ve been amazed by your support. We’ve reached our initial goal of finding 1,000 new paying members. We still have till the end of our birthday campaign — with more support, we can do even more good journalism. Over 13,000 people are standing behind us. Can we count on you, too?
Show us support this birthday month
Become a member
visa masterCard americanExpress

News Feed

MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.