Reporters Without Borders Offer Independent Autopsy

Last Thursday Robert Menard, General Secretary of the Reporters Without Borders international organization, announced at his press conference in Kyiv that, should Prosecutor General Mykhailo Potebenko give his consent, a French expert can come to Ukraine as early as June 29-30 to conduct another examination of the Tarashcha body. Reporters Without Borders had already turned to the Prosecutor General’s Office with a letter to this effect. Now, Mr. Menard stated, conducting the examination depends on the general prosecutor’s decision. Let us recall that the week before last Lesia Gongadze, Heorhy’s mother, stated the need for an additional examination. She is ready to give the necessary materials (e.g. Heorhy’s hair which was cut off at his baptism). Mr. Menard, speaking about a new European examination, expressed his hope that this examination will be “unprejudiced and objective.” In addition, the RWB Secretary General suggested creating an international commission to investigate the Gongadze case, which would include representatives of Ukrainian law enforcement bodies as well as representatives of the Ukrainian community and international organizations. According to Mr. Menard, the proposition to create such a commission is not evidence of any lack of trust in the Ukrainian law enforcement bodies but an attempt to put the case to a higher level.

Andriy Fedur, Lesia Gongadze’s lawyer, stated that last Wednesday he received official information that the Ukrainian Prosecutor General has turned to the Council of Europe with a request to the European countries to give assistance in conducting an examination of the Tarashcha body. Moreover, Mr. Fedur added, he has confirmation that this document had actually reached the Council of Europe. The lawyer also noted that he does not see any need to discuss whether the examination is appropriate, since Lesia Gongadze has a right to request it as Heorhy’s mother.