Criminal Investigations Take Control Of Ukrainian Politics
24 June 2008
Law enforcement agencies have launched investigations into high-ranking Ukrainian officials and business leaders.
- Former president Leonid Kuchma was questioned for the third time yesterday, as a witness in two high-profile criminal cases.
- The former heads of the Lugansk and Kharkiv Regional Councils were convicted of separatism during the 2004 Presidential Election Campaign.
- The CEO of mid-sized Ukrgazbank was arrested last week, during an investigation into the theft of ~USD 60 mln by the former Transportation Ministry. President
- Viktor Yushchenko said last week that the present Kryvorizhstal owners, oligarchs Viktor Pinchuk and Rinat Akhmetov, tried to offer USD 10 mln in bribes for the courts to rule Kryvorizhstal?s privatization in 2004 was legal.
- Acting Head of the Organized Crime Unit Serhiy Kornich said yesterday that he believes Rinat Akhmetov is the leader of a criminal group.
- Authorities identified police general Oleksiy Pukach, as the key suspect in journalist Georgii Gongadze?s murder.
- News services reported that Pukach has been found in Israel and is under the watch of Israeli police. President Viktor Yushchenko said yesterday he hopes Pukach will be brought to Ukraine alive.
Concorde Capital: It appears the new government is finally consolidating its hold on power and is working to establish the rule of law. Exposing the country?s criminals will also help Yuschenko?s team win in the upcoming 2006 Parliamentary elections.
