You're reading: EU to keep an eye on inquiry into Kuchma’s case, says European expert

Expert of the European Policy Centre Amanda Paul believes that the EU will follow the investigation into the criminal case instituted against Ukraine's second president (1994-2005) Leonid Kuchma, in terms of observance of law and the rule of law.

Commenting on the opening of this criminal case, in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine the expert expressed confidence that the investigation should be conducted in line with legal procedures and should result in a judgment.

"This should not be a process on paper, when the sentence had already been determined long before the case was launched. I think that the EU will closely follow Kuchma’s case, how it is investigated, if necessary procedures are observed, whether it complies with the rule of law, whether it is transparent," Paul said.

The expert also believes that by opening this case, Ukraine’s leadership is trying to show that it is holding a fair investigation, fighting corruption in relation to all, disregarding their posts or political membership.

At the same time, Paul believes that these proceedings are unlikely to end in any sentence, because they is not enough evidence to condemn Kuchma. "He might be guilty, but there is not enough concrete evidence that he had ordered the murder of journalist Georgy Gongadze," she said.

The criminal case against Kuchma on his involvement in the murder of journalist Georgy Gongadze was opened on March 21, 2011. The second Ukrainian president is charged with exceeding his authority and giving unlawful instructions to Interior Ministry officials, which subsequently led to Gongadze’s murder.

Kuchma was charged with exceeding authority or abuse of power under part 3, Article 166 of the 1960 Criminal Code of Ukraine.

Journalist Gongadze disappeared in Kyiv on September 16, 2000. Experts believe that a decapitated body found in a forest outside Kyiv two months later could be the journalist’s.