Former Ukrainian lawmaker and linguist Iryna Farion was assassinated in Lviv on July 19, 2024. The shooting occurred at around 7:30 p.m., and the unidentified gunman fled the scene after the attack.
Iryna Farion gained controversy when she stated that she couldn't call Ukrainian soldiers Ukrainians if they spoke Russian. She entered politics in 2005, joining the ultranationalist party Svoboda and serving as a member of parliament between 2012 and 2014.
Farion was reinstated as a professor at Lviv Polytechnic University shortly before her death. Her statements about Russian-speaking soldiers sparked outrage, leading to criminal investigations against her by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
The authorities are still searching for the gunman responsible for Iryna Farion's assassination and have not ruled out possible political motivations or personal dislikes as potential motives.
President Volodymyr Zelensky called for a thorough investigation into her death, stating that anyone responsible must be held accountable.
Iryna Farion was known for her controversial statements regarding the use of the Russian language in Ukraine. Many Ukrainians speak Russian, especially in eastern regions closer to Russia. Her stance on this issue sparked heated debates and controversy within Ukraine.
The shooting of Iryna Farion is not an isolated incident, as political assassinations have been a feature of Ukraine's political landscape before the full-scale invasion by Russia in 2022. However, there had been no high-profile killings or attempted assassinations since the war broke out.
