Police accused of murdering Ukraine journalist stand trial News
Police accused of murdering Ukraine journalist stand trial

[JURIST] The trial of three former police officers for the murder of prominent Ukraine opposition journalist Heorhiy Gongadze [Wikipedia profile] has begun in Kiev. Valeriy Kostenko, Mykola Protasov and Oleksandr Popovych are accused of carrying out the killing in September 2000, but no one has yet been charged with giving the order for the murder. Gongadze was an outspoken critic of former Ukranian President Leonid Kuchma [BBC profile], later implicated in the murder [JURIST report] through secret recordings. Kuchma denies any involvement. Current Ukranian President Victor Yushenko [BBC profile] says the case is a top priority for him. BBC News has more.