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Svyatlana Zavadskaya: We'll learn the truth after change of power

Svyatlana Zavadskaya: We'll learn the truth after change of power

The former wife of the disappeared Belarusian journalist thinks that trials, similar to those against Gongadze killers, will be held in the country in future.

“I was looking forward to a court decision in Georgy Gongadze's case,” Svyatlana Zavadskaya said in an interview with Radio Racyja.

“I am happy it became possible in that country. Presidents changed – Yushchenko, Yanukovych. But the case was brought to a logical end. However, Gongadze's relatives say that not all people guilty were punished. At least they have some success. I want this to be possible in our country too. Everything depends on the authorities. We will learn something when the power changes,” she said.

Oleksiy Pukach, the commander of Ukrainian Interior Ministry's criminal investigation directorate, was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of journalist Georgy Gongadze in 2000. The decision was taken by Kyiv's Pechersky District Court. Pukach said in his final statement that he would agree with the sentence only if former president of Ukraine Leonid Kuchma and former speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Volodymyr Lytvyn also stood trial.

As revealed during the investigation, Georgy Gongadze was killed for his articles about corruption among country's top officials that he published on Ukrainska Pravda website, which he founded.

Criminal cases over disappearances of Belarusian politicians Yury Zakharanka, Viktar Hanchar, businessman Anatoly Krasouski and cameraman Dzmitry Zavadski are officially conducted, but they may be closed officially 15 years after the disappearances due to the expiry of the statute of limitations. The Belarusian authorities are suspected to have been involved in the disappearances.

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