Myroslava Gongadze endorses Jaroslaw Koshiw's book "Beheaded" (05/11/03)

Myroslava Gongadze endorses Jaroslaw Koshiw's book "Beheaded"

by Oksana Zakydalsky

Jaroslaw Koshiw was recently in Canada and the United States to introduce his book "Beheaded: the Killing of a Journalist" at presentations in Detroit, Toronto, Washington and New York. The book was published in January of this year and examines the case of journalist Heorhii Gongadze - his investigative work in Ukraine on television, radio and the Internet - exposing corruption in high places, his disappearance and murder, and evidence that points to the involvement of President Leonid Kuchma in the case.

I met Myroslava Gongadze, widow of the murdered journalist, at the Association for the Study of Nationalities Conference held recently at Columbia University, where she took part in a panel discussion on "Media and Politics in Ukraine" and led the discussion at a special screening of the BBC film on the Gongadze case "Killing the Story." I spoke to her about Mr. Koshiw's book.

Q: Can you give your general opinion about the book "Beheaded: the Killing of a Journalist"?

A: When he began to work on the book, Yarko Koshiw came to me in Kyiv and said: "I am planning to write this book." I really did not believe that it would happen. When he was in Washington recently, I reminded him that I had not believed that he would do it. It is an admirable project and a job well done. He undertook a very difficult task and I think that he produced a work of quality.

I am very glad that he puts the problem of the murder of Heorhii into a historical context. He does not merely relate what happened with him; he tells what happened to other journalists and political activists up to the time that Heorhii was killed. Basically, he opens our eyes to the large number of crimes that have been committed in Ukraine, a country under the leadership of President Kuchma. This book is a documented history of the investigation process, of the killing of Heorhii and, basically, a documented history of contemporary Ukraine. The book includes a large number of facts and it explains, in great detail, the investigation process which, I think, is its primary achievement.

Q: To provide insight into the case, Koshiw takes excerpts from the Melnychenko tapes supposedly made in the president's office and compares them to what actually happened. Do you think his method is persuasive?

A: I think it is the only method that one could use, and it is one that enables the reader of the book to understand clearly the process involved. What he does is basically establish the link between the events and the tapes, and we get to see how the events develop. It is Koshiw's use of the tapes which makes the book a document and a history, and not just literature.

Q: You were at Koshiw's book presentation in Washington. How did the audience react to the book and the author?

A: There was a lot of interest, and the author sold a large number of books. People were very interested in the details of the investigation process and in the author's understanding of the process. I personally asked the author why he had written this book and he replied that he had long wanted to do that kind of book. His first motivation was the fact that his friend and colleague, Mykhailo Boychyshyn had disappeared [in 1994]. He wanted to investigate that disappearance but, at the time, there was no evidence to pursue. When Heorhii disappeared and some of Melnychenko's tapes were made public, Koshiw saw that, finally, "I have a chance to prove the criminality of the Ukrainian government." I am very glad that he wrote the book. I know it was difficult - even technically difficult - and that he took a risk, as do all of us who are involved in this case. He worked long on the book and published it with his own money.

Q: On the outside it appears that the case of your husband's disappearance has reached a dead end. It seems that people are waiting for something to happen, although they are not happy with the situation. Do you think that something will happen to kick-start a resolution to the case?

A: I work every day on keeping the issue alive. The case has been presented to the courts in the U.S. There is also a special committee at the Council of Europe investigating this issue. We have made some progress with the investigating committee at the Verkhovna Rada. Some of the Melnychenko tapes have been handed over to the U.S. Department of Justice for identification - I think this will help a lot.

Of course, a lot of things that are being done are not made public. I, personally, have not folded my hands and I am glad that there are, both in the American government and in the Verkhovna Rada, committees that are investigating the killing of Gongadze. A lot of people are helping and trying to do something.

I believe that this crime will be solved. Maybe we won't see that soon but, as you know, we have examples here in the United States of cases that take up to 20 years and only after a long time are solutions found. But, personally, I am not afraid of this because I am convinced that, if we do not get answers to the Gongadze investigation, if the guilty are not brought before the courts - then we will not have a stable Ukraine.

Q: How do you answer people - often called "derzhavnyky" - who believe that criticism of the president of Ukraine and accusations against him made on the world stage do harm to Ukraine?

A: The only thing I can say is that we must remember that truth never threatened anybody. Only truth can help a country to be reborn and, I will repeat this, if we do not find a solution to this case, if we see no results, if there are no answers to the questions that have been raised, then there is no hope that Ukraine will develop normally. If these "derzhavnyky" are really concerned about the fate of Ukraine, their first task should be to find the answers, to find the truth.

I am absolutely certain about my mission and confident about what I am doing. And I will continue to act consistently. Many people, including many young people, who once were afraid to talk to me, now approach me and squeeze my hand as a sign of support. Even people who work at the Embassy of Ukraine, who work at various Ukrainian representation establishments in Europe, earlier - say a year or two ago - were afraid to approach me. Now they understand that only truth can save us and they themselves feel the falsity of their positions. They don't say this officially, but when they talk to me, they tell me so. They say: help us to free ourselves.

Q: I know several people who were familiar with the Gongadze case and have said that they found the Koshiw book convincing. Do you think this book will help in the case of Heorhii Gongadze?

A: Yes, the book is very readable and clearly explains the whole process. I think everyone should read it and find out how it all really happened.

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The book "Beheaded: Killing of a Journalist may be ordered online at www.artemiapress.com.uk. The price of $25 (U.S.) includes postage. It is also available in Canada through the Ukrainian Book Store in Edmonton, www.ukrainianbookstore.com.

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