19 December 2007

Alert

IFJ demands withdrawal of award to judge who closed case against prime suspect in Gongadze murder


Incident details

Gyorgy Gongadze

journalist(s)

killed
(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an 18 December 2007 IFJ media release:

IFJ Demands Withdrawal of Award to Judge Who Closed Case against Prime Suspect in Gongadze Murder

In a letter to Ukraine President Yushenko, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today condemned the awarding last week of the title "Lawyer of Honour of Ukraine" to Maria Prindiuk.

In April 2004 Judge Prindiuk closed the case against General Olexiy Pukach for destroying documents related to the case of Gyorgy Gongadze, the journalist murdered in September 2000. This action helped General Pukach, the prime suspect in Gongadze's murder, to evade justice.

"This award represents a signal of support by your administration for officials who, whether deliberately or by their gross negligence, have allowed the organisers of Gongadze's murder to go unpunished," wrote Aidan White. "In this respect your administration is affording impunity to those organisers of the crime."

The Presidential administration announced the award on 14 December. The award to Judge Prindiuk - like the medal awarded to former general prosecutor Mikhail Potebenko, who failed to take action when Gongadze approached him for help, and then woefully failed to investigate his murder - amounts to a reward for obstructing justice in this vital case.

The letter was supported by Gongadze's widow, Myroslava Gongadze, the Institute of Mass Information, the Independent Media Trade Union of Ukraine and the National Union of Journalists of the UK and Ireland.

The IFJ urges President Yushenko to revoke the title conferred upon Judge Prindiuk and to hold to account all those who have obstructed the successful investigation of the Gongadze case.

The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries worldwide.



Source:

International Federation of Journalists
International Press Centre, Residence Palace
Bloc C, second floor, Rue de la Loi, 155
1040 Brussels
Belgium
Phone: +32 2 2352207
Fax: +32 2 2352219
 

Stay on top of free expression news.

Sign up to receive the weekly IFEX Communiqué.


More on this case

Former president must be prosecuted in Gongadze murder, says CPJ 15 December 2011 Gongadze murder suspect admits to killing, names former president Kuchma as conspirator 1 September 2011 Trial of Gongadze murder suspect should be open to public, says CPJ 17 August 2011 Former president indicted in journalist's murder 25 March 2011 CPJ concerned by irregularities in Gongadze case 2 March 2011 Joint statement on the 10th anniversary of journalist Gyorgy Gongadze's death 20 September 2010 IFJ, IMI renew call for action in investigation into Gongadze murder 18 September 2009 Ukraine must seize opportunity of confessions to reporter's murder to reveal truth, says IFJ 27 July 2009 Resolution calls for further action to prosecute former officials who may have been behind journalist Giorgiy Gongadze's killing 30 January 2009 European parliamentarians call for justice for slain journalist Georgiy Gongadze 26 June 2008 Three former policemen convicted of murder of journalist Georgiy Gongadze 17 March 2008 IFJ calls on president to withdraw honour for prosecutor in charge of failed investigation of journalist's death 27 March 2007 Former president questioned in Gongadze murder investigation, two Interior Ministry officers charged 14 March 2005 DNA test confirms body is that of disappeared journalist Georgiy Gongadze 12 March 2003 CPJ marks second anniversary of journalist's disappearance 16 September 2002 Deputy prosecutor general makes misleading statement in attempt to delay launch of international commission of inquiry into journalist Georgiy Gongadze's disappearance and murder 30 January 2002 Council of Europe supports creation of independent commission of inquiry in Gongadze case 28 September 2001 CPJ supports call for international inquiry on anniversary of journalist's disappearance 19 September 2001 One year of impunity for journalist Georgy Gongadze's killers 13 September 2001 Authorities compel murdered journalist Georgiy Gongadze's mother to bury his body 5 June 2001 Authorities "shed light on" journalist Georgiy Gongadze's assassination 16 May 2001 License of radio station that rebroadcasts BBC revoked ten days before vote on the exclusion of Ukraine from the Council of Europe 17 April 2001 RSF urges new interior minister to put a stop to the violence against journalists 26 March 2001 RSF calls for a full investigation into the Ministry of the Interior to uncover those responsible for journalist Georgiy Gongadze's murder 22 March 2001 RSF asks FBI team in Kiev for new autopsy on body of murdered journalist Georgy Gongadze 16 March 2001 Legal authorities acknowledge that journalist Georgiy Gongadze was murdered 28 February 2001 RSF asks to take part in international inquiry into case of missing journalist Georgiy Gongadze 22 December 2000 RSF denounces serious press freedom situation 20 December 2000 CPJ calls for independent investigation into Gongadze disappearance 15 December 2000 IFJ deeply concerned by recent discovery of possible remains of journalist Georgy Gongadze 29 November 2000 Decapitated corpse found, could be that of journalist missing since September 28 November 2000 CPJ concerned about journalist's disappearance 26 September 2000 Editor missing 20 September 2000

Ukraine

Editor reported missing in Lvov region 29 March 2012 Court decision threatens future of country's largest newspaper 10 February 2012 Former president must be prosecuted in Gongadze murder, says CPJ 15 December 2011 Newspaper photographer murdered in Kiev 1 December 2011 Opposition TV channel disappears from the airwaves 26 October 2011 See all alerts: Ukraine


 
IFEX is a global network of committed organisations working to defend and promote free expression.
Permission is granted for material on this website to be reproduced or republished in whole or in part provided the source member and/or IFEX is cited with a link to the original item.