Yushchenko: I’ll prosecute officials

UKRAINIAN opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko promised yesterday to prosecute government officials for crimes committed during the last decade should he win the country’s December 26 re-run of the presidential election.

Mr Yushchenko faces prime minister Viktor Yanukovich in the repeat of the November 21 vote. The Supreme Court threw out Mr Yanukovich’s victory in that run-off, saying it was invalidated by fraud.

Mr Yushchenko singled out the murder of journalist Hrihoriy Gongadze as an example of a crime that will not go unpunished should he be elected. President Leonid Kuchma was accused of involvement in the case, although he has denied the allegations.