Freimut Duve: Concern for Missing Ukrainian Journalist

VIENNA, 21 September 2000 - A prominent Ukrainian journalist, Heorhy Gongadze, editor of the online magazine Ukrainska Pravda, went missing in Kyiv on 16 September 2000. Prior to his disappearance, Mr. Gongadze had earlier published an open letter to the prosecutor on the Internet complaining about certain forms of harassment against him.

On 19 September, Freimut Duve, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, wrote a letter to Ukrainian Foreign Minister Boris Tarasyuk voicing his concern regarding the fate of Mr. Gongadze. He asked the Minister to inform his Office "of all the steps taken and all the information available on the case as soon as possible." A copy of this letter was sent to Ivan Drach, Chairman of the State Committee for Information Policy, Television and Radio.

Over the past two days Freimut Duve received several requests from Ukrainian as well as international non-governmental organisations and journalists asking him to intervene in this case. Without prejudicing the results of the investigation initiated by the local police, the OSCE Representative would like to reiterate that the disappearance of a journalist is of major concern to his Office and expects the government to do its outmost in locating Heorhy Gongadze.

For further information, please contact Alexander Ivanko on e-mail: [email protected]

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