Former Ukrainian President Kuchma formally charged over journalist murder

Former Ukrainian President Kuchma formally charged over journalist murder

2011-03-24 23:58:53 GMT+7 (ICT)

KIEV, UKRAINE (BNO NEWS) -- Former Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma on Thursday informed that he was formally charged in connection with the 2000 murder of journalist and regime critic Georgy Gongadze.

According to the state-run Ukrinform news agency, Kuchma, the second Ukrainian president in history (1994-2005), will challenge the resolution of the Prosecutor General's Office (PGO) to open a criminal case against him.

"I do not agree with all points of the resolution and I have been charged," Kuchma said. "I am reading the list of charges and will come here on Monday again."

On Tuesday, the PGO opened a criminal case against Kuchma as he is suspected of involvement in illegal actions and the murder of Gongadze. The former president was also ordered not to leave the country.

In September 2000, the decapitated body of Gongadze was found in a forest near Kiev. In March 2008, three former employees of the department of foreign surveillance, Valeriy Kostenko, Mykola Protasov and Oleksandr Popovych, were sentenced to terms ranging from 12 to 13 years in prison for their involvement in the case.

In September 2010, authorities determined that Oleksiy Pukach, former head of the foreign surveillance department of the Interior Ministry, received orders to commit the murder from former Interior Minister Yuriy Kravchenko.

Pukach was put on the most wanted list in 2005. He was detained in July 2009 and is currently under custody. Former Minister Kravchenko committed suicide in 2005. In an alleged secret tape recording a voice that is believed to be Kuchma ordered Kravchenko to "deal" with Gongadze.

During the investigation, Kuchma refused to meet with his former bodyguard Mykola Melnychenko, the author of the tapes allegedly made in the office of the former president.

Kuchma denied all foul play and said that accusations against him are based only on testimonies and not evidence. He added that he planned to have a face-to-face meeting with Pukach who is awaiting trial.

On Wednesday, the director of the Ukrainian Barometer sociological office Viktor Nebozhenko said that criminal proceedings against Kuchma will not help solving the journalist's murder.

"The criminal case against Kuchma will cause very serious reshuffles and very serious concerns in elite circles. For the first time in 20 years of independent Ukraine the PGO is getting stronger, stronger than the Cabinet of Ministers, Ukrainian Security Service and Administration of the President," added the expert.

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