[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 127 (Tuesday, September 16, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1801]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   MURDER OF UKRAINIAN HEORHIY GONGADZE STILL UNSOLVED AFTER 3 YEARS

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                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 16, 2003

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, the murder of Ukrainian 
investigative journalist Heorhiy Gongadze remains unsolved--three years 
after he was murdered. On September 16, 2000, Gongadze, editor of 
``Ukrainska Pravda'', an Internet news publication critical of high-
level corruption in Ukraine, disappeared.
  Ukrainian President Kuchma and a number of high-ranking officials 
have been implicated in his disappearance and the circumstances leading 
to his murder. Audio recordings exist that contain conversations 
between Kuchma and other senior government officials discussing the 
desirability of Gongadze's elimination. Over the last three years, the 
Ukrainian authorities' handling, or more accurately, mishandling of 
this case has been characterized by obfuscation and stonewalling.
  Last month, a prime suspect in the case, former senior militiaman 
Ihor Honcharov, who allegedly headed a gang of ex-police accused of 
several kidnappings and murders, died in police custody under 
mysterious circumstances. His posthumous letters--which give a detailed 
account of events surrounding Gongadze's death and which name names--
are now being investigated by the Prosecutor General's office. A few 
days ago, Prosecutor General Svyatoslav Piskun indicated that some 
facts in the letters have proved to be true. Reportedly, warrants have 
been issued for two suspects in the killing.
  Mr. Speaker, a credible investigation of this case by Ukrainian 
authorities is long overdue. At the same time, it is important to 
stress that not only those who committed the actual crime, but those 
who ordered it--no matter who they may be--need to be brought to 
justice.
  Unfortunately, the Gongadze case is not an isolated one. The murder, 
and deaths in suspicious car accidents, of journalists and opposition 
figures, have become commonplace. Earlier this year, Ukraine's 
Ombudsman Nina Karpachova asserted that journalism remains among the 
most dangerous professions in Ukraine, with 36 media employees having 
been killed over the past ten years, and many more have been beaten, 
including several within the last few months. This past July, Volodymyr 
Yefremov, a journalist critical of president Kuchma who worked with the 
press freedom group Institute of Mass Information (11/41), died in a 
suspect car accident. Just two weeks ago, Ivan Havdyda, who was head of 
the Ternopil region branch of the democratic opposition ``Our 
Ukraine'', was found murdered in Kyiv under questionable circumstances.

  Over the last three years, the Helsinki Commission, Members of the 
House and Senate, Department of State, the OSCE, the Council of Europe 
and other international institutions repeatedly have raised the 
Gongadze murder case and urged the Ukrainian authorities to undertake a 
serious investigation into the this case. The response from Ukrainian 
officials has done nothing but cast doubt about the Ukrainian 
Government's commitment to the rule of law. Last year--just to cite one 
example--Ukrainian authorities blocked FBI experts from examining 
evidence gathered during the initial investigation, even after 
promising to accept U.S. technical assistance in the matter.
  I also hope that the Ukrainian parliament will take determined action 
in encouraging governmental accountability for solving the Gongadze and 
other murders, and bringing those involved to justice.
  The lack of a resolution of the Gongadze and other cases of those who 
have perished under suspicious circumstances has tarnished the 
credibility of the Ukrainian authorities in dealing with fundamental 
human rights.
  Mr. Speaker, as Chairman of the Helsinki Commission and in the 
strongest possible terms, I once again urge Ukrainian authorities to 
take seriously the many enduring concerns regarding the circumstances 
that led to Heorhiy Gongadze's murder and the subsequent investigation.




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