The general prosecutor confirmed this week in a newspaper interview that former President Leonid Kuchma is not suspected of ordering the murder of journalist Georgiy Gongadze in 2000.
Since the nation’s ex-leader was first charged in March, critics have complained that prosecuting Kuchma for abuse of power in giving an order that led to the murder of Gongadze was the wrong charge. Many think he should stand trial for nothing less than murder.
The comments of General Prosecutor Viktor Pshonka will be seen by many as confirmation that the aim of the prosecution is to clear Kuchma, the political patron of President Viktor Yanukovych, of any serious wrongdoing.
Pshonka admitted in the interview with Dzerkalo Tyzhnia that the investigation had always been tainted by politics. This continues to be the case. Yanukovych appears to be killing several birds with one stone in this prosecution.
First, the investigation into Kuchma gives the appearance of balance and fairness to the investigations into leading opposition politicians such as former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and former Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko.
Second, it brings pressure to bear on Victor Pinchuk, Kuchma’s son-in-law who acquired great wealth during his father-in-law’s decade-long term in office. Some observers say the aim is to force Pinchuk to give up some of his assets to businessmen who are close to Yanukovych, or Russian companies.
Third, prosecuting a former president, indeed a former ally, demonstrates Yanukovych’s power and serves as a warning shot to anyone who may be tempted to challenge him.
Yanukovych, of course, says the investigations are driven by a desire for justice and denies any other motives.
But this is not credible, given prosecutors’ willingness to carry out politically motivated prosecutions of former members of the last government of Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and the excessive amounts of pre-trial detentions on dubious criminal charges.
Moreover, the low-brow drama that accompanies criminal cases in this nation reveals serious shortcomings in competence and professionalism. This nation’s prosecutors simply can’t solve hard or politically charged cases – or don’t want to solve them.
Meanwhile, as the Gongadze case continues to be politicized, we get no closer to the truth about who ordered the slaying of Gongadze, with the 11th anniversary of his terrible murder coming up on Sept. 16. The cover-up and international embarrassment continue. We will keep pushing for justice.
