You're reading: Prosecutors will appeal closing of Kuchma case on Monday

Kyiv, December 17 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The Prosecutor General's Office will appeal against a ruling of Pechersky District Court of Kyiv to close a criminal case against Ukraine's second president (1994-2005) Leonid Kuchma on charges of his involvement in the murder of journalist Georgy Gongadze.

"We have made a decision today that a ruling of Pechersky District Court of Kyiv to cancel a resolution to open a criminal case against Kuchma will be filed on Monday," Prosecutor General Viktor Pshonka said on Friday on Inter TV channel.

"We believe that the case should be investigated in full," he stressed.

As reported, a criminal case was opened against Kuchma on March 21, 2011. He is charged with abuse of power and official authority, which subsequently led to the murder of journalist Georgy Gongadze (Part 3, Article 166 of the 1960 Criminal Code). Tapes secretly recorded by Kuchma’s former bodyguard Mykola Melnychenko in the president’s office were declared to be material evidence in the case.

Kyiv Pechersky District Court cancelled an order by the Prosecutor General’s Office to open a criminal case against Kuchma on suspicion of his possible involvement in the murder of journalist Georgy Gongadze.

The court ruled that Melnychenko’s tapes were obtained illegally and thus cannot serve as evidence in the criminal case against Kuchma.