Third attempt at the life of the editor of the newspaper “Tikhiy uzhas” (Lubny)
The General Prosecutors office of Ukraine, according to the order of President Leonid Kuchma, realized a number of actions for the investigation of the attack on the house of Vasiliy Koriaka, the editor of the newspaper “Tikhiy uzhas” and a former mayor of Lubny (the Poltava oblast). The attack took place on 17 June 2003. Lubny militia department instituted the criminal case after Article 296 part 4 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (hooliganism with application of firearms). Besides, last week the prosecutors office of the Poltava oblast started two more criminal cases, in particular after the article “Premeditated destruction or damage of property that inflicted serious material losses”. The investigation considers several versions, among them the crime committed because of the professional activities of the journalist. Vasiliy Koriaka is sure that the attack was caused by his critical articles against the Poltava governor.
This was the third attempt at the life of V. Koriaka. In 1996 a grenade exploded near his house, and in 1998 a stranger fired a riffle at his car. Neither of these attempts was disclosed.
The General Prosecutors office controls the investigation of the latter crime and the ODA conducted by law-enforcing organs.
(«Fakty», No. 124, 15 July 2003)