Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has said he wants Ukraine's Second President Leonid Kuchma to prove he was not involved in the murder of journalist Georgy Gongadze.
"I maintain a normal relationship with Leonid Danylovych [Kuchma]. And I hope he rides out the complicated situation he has found himself in," Yanukovych said on UT-1 Channel on Wednesday.
According to the president, Kuchma’s honor is at stake.
At the same time, Yanukovych said that it was up to law-enforcers and court to establish the truth.
"I wish him to prove his innocence legally," the head of state said.
Yanukovych also denied allegations that he was taking revenge on Kuchma.
"There are various rumors that I have a grudge against him, or that this is some sort of revenge. This is not true. It’s nothing of the kind," Yanukovych said.
Journalist Georgy Gongadze went missing in Kyiv on Sept. 16, 2000.
A headless body that experts believed could be that of Gongadze was found in the forest in the Kyiv region in November 2000.
In November 2000, former officer of the State Security Guard of Ukraine, Major Mykola Melnychenko published audio recordings allegedly made in the office of President Leonid Kuchma.
The recordings implicated Kuchma and several other high-ranking officials in putting pressure on journalists, parliamentary deputies and judges over Gongadze’s murder.
A criminal case into the murder of journalist Georgy Gongadze was opened against Kuchma on March 21, 2011.
Kuchma is charged with abuse of office and giving illegal orders to Interior Ministry officials, which lead to the killing of Gongadze.
