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The Tribunal for Putin (T4P) global initiative was set up in response to the all-out war launched by Russia against Ukraine in February 2022.

On 21 May 2010 Georgy Gongadze should have turned 41

21.05.2010    source: www.radiosvoboda.org
Almost 10 years ago the journalist and founder of the Internet publication “Ukrainska Pravda” disappeared. Only those who actually carried out his killing have been brought to trial. Myroslava Gongadze has little faith in the investigation and is negative about freedom of speech in Ukraine

Almost 10 years ago the journalist and founder of the Internet publication “Ukrainska Pravda” disappeared. Only those who actually carried out his killing have been brought to trial. Georgy’s widow, Myroslava, does not believe that the new authorities can speed up the investigation. She is also negative about freedom of speech in Ukraine.

You have been living abroad for many years. How do you assess freedom of speech in Ukraine?

Unfortunately I think the situation with freedom of speech can be considered bad. There are certain formal elements of freedom of speech, yet journalists are experiencing pressure on them. This is borne out by recent statements. Over the last five years, during the thaw of sorts under Yushchenko the main foundations for freedom of speech were not established, and the system could be easily changed. I think that is what is happening at the moment, these attempts to re-impose censorship, control over the media – it’s very depressing.

Do you think that the change of regime in Ukraine will have an effect on the investigation into the murder of your husband?

Quite honestly I have little hope of that. However we will continue to demand that they do all that is possible. In actual fact there was little hope throughout these 10 years. Yet we did manage to do something. Now the main task is to bring the case of Pukach who was arrested last summer to its conclusion. The case should be brought to court by the end of the year. We will read the file material and see what testimony he gave. Unfortunately at present we have no access to the file material. We don’t know what testimony is given, what the investigators are doing. The only thing I know is that the US State Department, specifically the FBI, have agreed to carry out an international DNA analysis with the participation of the FBI. We expect this analysis to be carried out in the near future.  We as victims, unfortunately, have no more information than that.

The interviewer was Tetyana Yarmoshchuk

 

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