More on Gongadze

Taras Kuzio at EDM has more on the Gongadze murder:

Yushchenko explained how resolving the murder of Gongadze -- and of other journalists and politicians from the Leonid Kuchma era -- is important evidence that the rule of law exists in Ukraine. Resolving the Gongadze case is also, "My, and my team's political, moral, human responsibility before Lesia Gongadze, before my country, and before the international community" (Ukrayinska pravda, March 1).

Investigators found the car used to kidnap Gongadze, but the SBU has refuted reports that Gongadze's head has been located. Military and Ministry of Emergency troops searching for Gongadze's head, which likely would have a bullet wound that could help identify the murderers. Investigators believe Gongadze was shot in the head and then decapitated so that the bullet could not be traced.

Yushchenko believes that the next -- and most important -- aspect of the Gongadze affair is, "Who organized and ordered this murder. At the moment, the investigation is moving to this stage" (Ukrayinska pravda, March 1). This is the most delicate phase, because the identity of those who ordered Gongadze to "be dealt with" has long been known.

And, the article concludes:

Piskun [Sviatyslav Piskun, Ukraine's current prosecutor] admitted that resolving the Gongadze affair "is going to be a litmus test of democracy in this society" (New York Times, February 3). Until there is closure on the Gongadze affair Ukraine cannot move forward. The release of the first tape in November 2000 sparked the Ukraine Without Kuchma movement that, exactly four years later, led to the Orange Revolution. When Yushchenko was elected on December 26, Lutsenko said the "Ukraine Without Kuchma movement is over" (1+1 TV, December 26). The final break with the past will come when the Gongadze investigation is finally closed.