Former Ukraine minister commits suicide

FORMER Ukrainian Interior Minister Yuriy Kravchenko shot himself yesterday, hours before prosecutors were to question him about the killing of an investigative journalist five years ago.

President Viktor Yushchenko said Mr Kravchenko’s death could be linked to the investigation into the killing of journalist Heorhiy Gongadze, who was investigating Ukrainian government corruption.

“Everyone has a choice: either appear before the court and publicly stand up for his rights and honour or dispense justice on himself.” Mr Yushchenko said.

Mr Kravchenko had been implicated in organising the killing and had been summoned to give testimony to prosecutors in Kiev yesterday morning.

He left a note in which he blamed former President Leonid Kuchma and his entourage for his death, the Interfax news agency and Ukraine’s private NTN television reported, citing law enforcement sources.

According to the sources, Mr Kravchenko said he was committing suicide to save his family from “attacks.”

Ukrainian television said the 53-year-old former police official had shot himself at his country residence in an exclusive neighbourhood outside Kiev. Relatives found his body after they heard a gunshot.

Mr Gongadze was abducted in Kiev in September 2000, and his decapitated body was found months later buried in a forest outside the capital.

His death sparked months of protests against former President Leonid Kuchma, who the opposition alleged had ordered the killing. Mr Kuchma has denied any involvement.

The allegations against Mr Kuchma were based on recordings that a former presidential bodyguard said were made secretly in Mr Kuchma’s office.

In the tapes, a voice alleged to be that of Mr Kuchma is heard complaining about Mr Gongadze’s reporting and ordering Mr Kravchenko to “drive him out, throw (him) out, give him to the Chechens.”

Volodymyr Lytvyn, Mr Kuchma’s former chief-of-staff, was also allegedly heard on the tapes saying: “In my opinion, let loose Kravchenko to use alternative methods.”

Kremlin favourite Mr Kuchma and his circle have disputed the authenticity of the tapes. His spokeswoman, Olena Hromnytska, said the former president had no immediate comment on Mr Kravchenko’s death. “Let’s wait for the results of the investigation,” she said.

Mr Yushchenko, who was elected in December, has made solving Mr Gongadze’s slaying a top priority for his government. Two of the suspected killers are in custody, one is under orders not to leave Kiev and the fourth, police official Oleksiy Pukach, is wanted on an international warrant. All were employed by Ukraine’s Interior Ministry.