Ex-President Leonid Kuchma reportedly implicated in testimony on Gongadze murder

Former Police General Oleksei Pukach, on trial for killing journalist Heorhiy Gongadze in 2000, reported implicated Ukraine’s second president Leonid Kuchma of having a role in the murder, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday. AP cited Valentyna Telychenko, the lawyer for Gongadze’s widow, who was present at the hearing. Brad Wells: The Gongadze case is highly symbolic in Ukraine and particularly now as the country seeks to establish a reputation of going after criminals, regardless of their former position. Pukach’s fingering of Kuchma increases the likelihood he will someday face trial; he was formally charged back on March 24. However, as the statute of limitations on the charges against him has already expired, even if he is convicted he most likely will not face jail time.