FOR THE RECORD: State Department comments on Gongadze case (02/18/01)

FOR THE RECORD

State Department comments on Gongadze case

Following are excerpts from the daily press briefing at the U.S. Department of State on February 12 with spokesman Richard Boucher.

Question: Moving to another subject, President Leonid Kuchma seems to be under more pressure than ever. President [Vladimir] Putin has gone to visit him in an apparent attempt to give him some support. Does the United States have any message of support for him at this difficult time, and do you have any ongoing comments about the ongoing political crisis there?

Mr. Boucher: I think we have always expressed our concern about the case involving Mr. Gongadze, his disappearance. He was the journalist who disappeared last September. We have always urged an open investigation of the circumstances and urged the government to deal seriously with this case. We have expressed our interest at the highest levels of the Ukrainian government repeatedly. I think the European Union also had something to say on this and, like them, we have stressed with the Ukrainian government that a prompt, thorough and transparent investigation must be carried out and that the Ukrainian public must be kept fully informed about the progress of the case.

Frankly, we are troubled by the lack of progress to date in the investigation. We think that independent media such as those that Mr. Gongadze represented are one of the essential elements of any democratic society, and journalists must be able to do their job without fear of harassment, intimidation or retribution.

Question: Has Mr. Kuchma been contacted or has any senior person in this building had any contact with the Ukrainians since he came into office?

Mr. Boucher: I'm not aware that the secretary has. No, not Secretary [Colin] Powell. But certainly our Embassy is out there, ably representing us.

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