You're reading: Gongadze’s lawyer: Prosecutor General’s Office not interested in authenticating Melnychenko’s tapes

The tapes made by a former officer of the Department of State Guard of Ukraine, Major Mykola Melnychenko, cannot be recognized as material evidence in the case on the murder of journalist Georgy Gongadze without the opening of a criminal case against him, Valentyna Telychko, the lawyer of Gongadze's wife, Myroslava, has said.

"First of all, a criminal case must be opened against Melnychenko, and he would have good chances of being vindicated by the court, taking into account those things that were discussed in the president’s office," Telychko said on TV Channel 5.

According to her, "on the one hand, the Prosecutor General’s Office supposedly refers to Melnychenko’s tapes as evidence, and on the other hand – it is not studying and is not opening a criminal case against Melnychenko, and thus it gives no chance to authenticate these recordings."

The lawyer also said that the Prosecutor General’s Office considers as unproved the fact that it was Melnychenko who made the recordings in the office of second Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, and because of this it is not opening a criminal case.

"This means they will refer to evidence that is not acceptable, referring to unproved evidence by other accused. As a result, the court will make a conclusion on the failure to prove the guilt of these officials," she said.

"There is no need to hope that anyone will note the illegality of the origin of Melnychenko’s tapes, and there is no need to expect that without justification at court these tapes will be used," she said.

At the same time, the lawyer noted that Melnychenko still has submitted neither the originals of the recordings made by him, nor the equipment with which these recordings were made.

Telychko said she was sure that the Prosecutor General’s Office is not in fact interested in authenticating Melnychenko’s tapes.