18 September 2009

Alert

IFJ, IMI renew call for action in investigation into Gongadze murder


Joint statement on ninth anniversary of Gyorgy Gongadze's death

(IFJ/IMI/IFEX) - 15 September 2009 - It is now nine years since the murder of our colleague Gyorgy Gongadze on 16 September 2000, and on this occasion we once again call on the Ukrainian authorities to undertake a proper investigation of those who ordered the killing.

The brutal kidnapping and murder of Gyorgy, which took place after senior Ukrainian politicians had discussed harming him, was notorious, because it underlined the impunity with which those with power could use assassination as a means to silence journalists.

This summer there have been important developments in the case. Olexiy Pukach, who has been named by investigators and in court proceedings as the murderer, has been arrested. It has been reported that, as a result of information that Pukach gave to prosecutors, a skull that is almost certainly Gyorgy's has been recovered.

These steps forward in the investigation are welcome. But they should not conceal the stark truth: that no discernible progress has been made in determining how, and by whom, the killing was ordered. The issues raised in that regard - by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, by ourselves, and by our Ukrainian colleagues - have been almost completely ignored by the investigating authorities.

There were many obvious leads that could have been followed to determine the patterns of command in the internal affairs ministry and the government of the time. The trial and conviction of Pukach's three accomplices in 2008 opened up even more avenues than there were before. But most of these potential streams of information have been allowed to run dry.

The fourth of our reports monitoring the investigation of Gongadze's murder, published today, covers these issues in detail.

On this anniversary of Gyorgy's tragic death, we call:

- On the Ukrainian authorities to review and renew the investigation into those who ordered the killing, and to ensure that they are brought to justice;

- On the Ukrainian authorities to instigate criminal proceedings against senior officials who have deliberately obstructed the investigation;

- On governments and civil society across Europe to continue the fight against impunity for those in positions of power who sanction and organise violence against journalists.

Aidan White, General Secretary, International Federation of Journalists
Myroslava Gongadze, The Gongadze Foundation
Jeremy Dear, National Union of Journalists of UK and Ireland
Alla Lazareva, Institute of Mass Information

To read the report:
f4c493a-206a968.pdf (129 KB)



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
 
Institute of Mass Information
8 Krupskoi str.
02096 Kyiv
Ukraine
info (@) imi.org.ua
Phone: +380 445663085
Fax: +380 445661534
 

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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 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 demands withdrawal of award to judge who closed case against prime suspect in Gongadze murder 19 December 2007 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


 
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