Three police officers sentenced in Ukrainian journalist's slaying
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 15 March 2008 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Three police officers sentenced in Ukrainian journalist's slaying, 15 March 2008, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/47de70d119.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Heorhiy Gongadze (ITAR-TASS)
A Ukrainian court has convicted three former police officers of the killing of investigative journalist Heorhiy Gongadze more than seven years ago.
Mykola Protasov was handed a 13-year sentence on March 15, while Valeriy Kostenko and Oleksandr Popovich each received 12-year sentences.
Gongadze, who published articles about official corruption in his online newspaper "Ukrainska pravda," was a critic of former Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma.
He disappeared in September 2000 and his headless body was found in a forest outside Kyiv two months later.
Oleksiy Pukach, the former head of the Interior Ministry's surveillance department, is also wanted in connection with the killing. He is being sought on an international warrant.
After years of investigation, police have not tracked down those who ordered Gongodze's killing.
(With material from news agencies)
