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Where there is no law, but every man does what is right in his own eyes, there is the least of real liberty
Henry M. Robert

Will Lazarenko Case be Transferred to Kyiv? 

8 December, 1998 - 00:00

Hromada people picketed the Swiss Embassy in Kyiv yesterday, demanding
Pavlo Lazarenko's immediate release in Switzerland, The Day's Ruslana
PISOTSKA
reports.

The picketers started by assuring embassy staff of their respect and
that their action would be absolutely peaceful, whereupon they declared
that Switzerland had allowed itself to be dragged into a dirty political
game connected with the coming campaign, and Pavlo Lazarenko's arrest had
been engineered by "Ukrainian leaders." People's Deputy Tetiana Zadorozhna,
one of the picketers, stated that Hromada leader's arrest was a purely
political move, and that what had happened to "Pavlo Ivanovych" was "just
the beginning." Ms. Zadorozhna predicted that similar steps would be taken
to pressure most other presidential candidates (although Mr. Lazarenko
is not known to have made any statements about running for President -
Ed.)

Pavlo Lazarenko is expected to be in court in Geneva today in conjunction
with extending the term of his detention, Interfax-Ukraine states, referring
to the Tribune de Geneve which further reports that the investigators
in Geneva basically rely on a document submitted by Ukraine March 12, 1997,
requesting legal aid. Mr. Lazarenko's bank accounts in the Swiss capital
are frozen. Judge Lorraine Casper-Ansermet refused to specify the total
amount, but apparently a great deal of money is involved, continues Interfax-Ukraine.

The most important aspect in the Lazarenko case is where the man is
going to be kept and the place of investigation. Perhaps the situation
will be clarified by the Swiss investigating officer visiting Ukraine.
Contrary to Hromada's press service statement, The Day's reporter
at Boryspil Airport could find no visiting Swiss officials last Sunday.

Yesterday The Day's Natalia VERNYHORA contacted the Ukrainian
Procurator General's Office, asking whether the Swiss investigator was
expected. If so, what documents had he asked to prepare for his visit?
Viktor Nosachev of its press service, replied that he had "no such information."

Viktor Radetsky, head of National Interpol Center in Ukraine, asked
the same yesterday, had this to say: "We have information, but I cannot
disclose it, because the matter is in the Procurator General's hands."

 

 

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