Myroslava Gongadze speaks on cover-up of her husband's murder (06/03/01)

Myroslava Gongadze speaks on cover-up of her husband's murder

by Andrew Nynka

NEW YORK - "I could not believe these types of things could happen. I was aware of corruption in government, of laws being bent, but when I heard the manner of Heorhii's death and the steps the government took to try and conceal it, I had to question just what type of president is steering this country."

These were the words of Myroslava Gongadze, wife of the late Internet journalist Heorhii Gongadze, speaking at a public meeting on May 22 at the Ukrainian National Home in New York City.

The event was hosted by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America in conjunction with the Ukrainian American Coordinating Council.

Ms. Gongadze spoke critically of the authorities currently controlling Ukraine. "This is a president who doesn't think. He is the continuation of the old system and so long as he is in power we will continue to have these problems," she explained. "It is a different logic that works there. It's a logic of corruption, bribery and irrationality."

After graduating from Ivan Franko National University in Lviv with a degree in law, Ms. Gongadze worked for national democratic parties as a public affairs and media relations expert.

A person familiar with media and journalism, Ms. Gongadze said she believes that one of the most important things Ukraine can do in the coming months is "to ensure a free press."

"This is something that the current government is desperately trying to deny. Kuchma's government wants to ensure his version of the truth," stated Ms. Gongadze. "My friends call this an epidemic of lies, but I would add that these are lies and lack of professionalism."

"There have been many other journalists who have lost their lives battling against our government. We know and understand the tragedies of Borys Derevianko, Volodymyr Ivanov, Marianna Chorna and others," Ms. Gongadze commented. "None of these crimes has yet been resolved or the criminals punished."

"These were people who died trying to give the public an understanding of government and how it works in Ukraine," she said of the slain journalists.

When asked whether her husband should be looked upon as a hero, Ms. Gongadze remarked: "hero or not a hero - I will not say what Heorhii was - there has to be a transparent investigation. We must know what happened before we can say such things."

Ms. Gongadze stressed that "today it was Heorhii, tomorrow it could be any other journalist," adding that, "until Ukraine develops a free press capable of holding public officials to task, Ukraine's government will run by continual corruption."

In an effort to learn the whereabouts of her husband, Ms. Gongadze contacted Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs after learning that a headless corpse was found in Tarascha (near Kyiv) on November 2, 2000, that matched the description of her husband. Ms. Gongadze wrote several letters to the Ministry of Internal Affairs as well as to President Kuchma, but was repeatedly denied access. "I would write a letter to the ministry and they would say, if you really want to see the body, write another letter," she related.

Asked to elaborate, Ms. Gongadze responded: "It has been this way all along. I cannot get a clear answer. It is obvious that the government wants to move attention away from themselves in regard to this matter."

Recently the Ministry of Internal Affairs declared that the Gongadze murder case was solved and is now closed. Ms. Gongadze was asked to comment on the differing conclusions reached by Minister of Internal Affairs Yurii Smirnov on May 15 and Mr. Smirnov's assistant, Mykola Dzhyha, a day later.

Ms. Gongadze replied: "I believe that the statements of the new minister of internal affairs, Smirnov, have been the continuation of lies that have come from the mouths of officials in the Ukrainian Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Procurator General's office for the last six months."

Currently Ms. Gongadze plans to stay in the United States, where she will work for the International Republican Institute based in Washington. Ms. Gongadze, who has been granted asylum in the United States, noted that she continually fears for the safety of her 3 1/2-year-old twin daughters, but seeks to help Ukraine's journalists in their pursuit of truth.

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