Twelve years later, the case remains unsolved. Three police officers are serving prison sentences for their role in the cases, but the obvious dots that point to top officials ordering his murder remain unconnected.
Instead, Ukraine’s leadership marks the grim anniversary with a plan to decapitate the nation’s free speech.
On Sept. 18, President Viktor Yanukovych’s ruling majority in parliament advanced legislation that threatens to jail journalists and other citizens for defamation of character. If adopted, the proposed changes would reintroduce oppressive Soviet laws that criminalized libel and defamation.
Those found guilty of smearing politicians and oligarchs risk being jailed by Ukraine’s notoriously corrupt and unjust courts for up to five years. Forget about public protests. Lawmakers are also moving fast to restrict those too.
In less than three years of rule, Yanukovych and his cronies have put their main political rivals behind bars. They’ve strangled TVi, the sole television channel actively uncovering government corruption. Now the focus is on preventing the rest of the cowed news media from informing the public about the pervasive corruption and preventing them from striking back in protest.
The final nails in the coffin to bury Ukraine’s democratic future are being hammered down fast. Another candlelight vigil in Gongadze’s honor is not enough. There is another way to honor what he stood for. The last stand for preserving democratic freedoms is coming soon, and we must win this war.
