Myroslava Gongadze continues to push for independent investigation into husband's case (10/21/01)

Myroslava Gongadze continues to push for independent investigation into husband's case

by Andrew Nynka

PARSIPPANY, N.J. - With the case of missing journalist Heorhii Gongadze still unsolved after more than one year, his wife, Myroslava Gongadze, continues to push the Ukrainian government for an independent, comprehensive and conclusive investigation into the heart of the matter. She insists that the ramifications of neglecting the case, as well as the cases of other murdered journalists in Ukraine, include distancing Ukraine from its desire for European integration and harming its respected international standing.

According to Ms. Gongadze, Freimut Duve, the representative on freedom of the media with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), the international human rights watchdog group Transparency International, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders have all issued statements asking Ukraine's leaders to create an independent, international body capable of a transparent investigation into the September 16, 2000, disappearance of Mr. Gongadze, whose body was later recovered in a wooded area in the town of Tarascha, just 75 miles outside of Kyiv.

Ms. Gongadze said she continues to hold the Ukrainian government responsible and stressed that last month's investigation into the Gongadze case by Kroll associates, a private investigative agency from the United States, is not valid, citing Kroll associates' hiring by the pro-Kuchma Labor Ukraine party. She also maintained that Kroll was hired solely to "dismiss Kuchma's involvement in the case."

"There was no effort by Kroll associates to investigate the case; they were hired to dispute the handling of evidence and procedures taken by Western organizations in order to clear Mr. Kuchma or his staff of involvement in the case," she stated.

On September 27 PACE adopted resolution 1262, the report of the Committee on the Honoring of Obligations and Commitments by Member-States, prepared by co-rapporteurs Hanne Severinsen and Renate Wohlwend, which stated:

"The assembly condemns the aggression against, intimidation and even murder of journalists, members of Parliament and opposition politicians in Ukraine. It calls on the Ukrainian authorities to ensure the rule of law, to conduct their media policy in a way which will convincingly demonstrate respect of the freedom of expression in the country and to improve the legal framework for the media and the safety and working conditions of journalists.

"In particular, the assembly urges the authorities concerned to: 1) accelerate and complete the investigations of the disappearance and murder of Mr. Heorhii Gongadze, or initiate - if necessary - a new independent investigation in this matter, with the help of international experts; 2) to conduct a full, transparent and impartial investigation of the murder of Mr. Ihor Alexandrov and in other cases of journalists who have died in dubious circumstances."

On September 27 PACE also adopted the report of Mmes. Severinsen and Wohlwend as recommendation 1538 which stated: "The assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers ... ask the governments of the member-states of the Council of Europe to propose assistance by their investigators."

Ms. Gongadze said: "The involvement of independent, international agencies and experts hired by bodies such as the PACE or the OSCE will ensure that, at least in some way, the truth about murdered journalists in Ukraine can finally be revealed."

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