Ukrainian diplomat falls to his death (08/10/97)

Ukrainian diplomat falls to his death

by Nestor Gula

TORONTO - A Ukrainian diplomat in Ottawa fell to his death from his 19th story balcony on August 6.

Borys Poliachenko was the first secretary for science and technology at the Embassy of Ukraine for the last two years. He was due to go back to Ukraine on the weekend of August 9 as part of a normal rotation.

The Ottawa-Carleton Police Department received a call at 2:30 p.m. on August 6 that a man fell and the body was lying on the roof which covers the entrance to the apartment building. The police are treating the death as a suicide, according to Staff Sgt. Richard Murphy, media relations spokesperson at the Ottawa-Carleton Police Department.

Although the police will not officially release the name of the deceased, Andrii Marchenko, press secretary at the Ukrainian Embassy in Ottawa, confirmed reports that the person in question was Mr. Poliachenko. Mr. Marchenko said the Embassy is saddened by Mr. Poliachenko's death. He said that as far as he knows there are no indications that the incident was anything but a grave accident. Due to the ongoing police investigation he was not able to release any more information.

According to an Associated Press report of August 6, Det. Lengacher of the Ottawa-Carleton Police Department confirmed that the apartment building where Mr. Poliachenko's body was found was the deceased's residence and suggested that Mr. Poliachenko's family was inside the apartment but did not witness the incident. This could not be confirmed at press time.

Associates of Mr. Poliachenko, who did not want their names to be used, said he behaved normally during the last few days of his life. He was visiting friends and saying good-bye in preparation for his departure to Ukraine.

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