You're reading: Merkel urges Yanukovych to help find Kharkiv journalist

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has called on Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to take measures to hasten the investigation into the disappearance of journalist Vasyl Klymentyev.

Merkel touched on this subject in a telephone conversation held on the initiative of the Ukrainian side, Deutsche Welle reported citing the federal government of Germany.

The two officials spoke about the development of the political situation in Ukraine after on October 1 the Constitutional Court canceled the country’s political reform of 2004.

In this regard, the federal chancellor stressed the importance of separation of powers, and expressed hope that the new distribution of powers in Ukraine will help promote democracy in the country.

Merkel also said that Ukraine is an important partner for Europe and Germany, therefore they attach great importance to its further development.

As reported, Klymentyev, the chief editor for the Kharkiv-based weekly Novyi Stil, disappeared on August 11 and is still missing. His colleagues have expressed concern that Klymentyev’s disappearance is connected to his professional work.