Oleksii PODOLSKY: “I have an impression that everything connected with the Kuchma family is a taboo”

On November 6 the next hearing of the Pechersk Court in the trial of Oleksii Pukach, accused of murdering Heorhii Gongadze, took place. Oleksii PODOLSKY, an aggrieved party in this case, had to leave the session. Why? He explained the reason to The Day in a phone conversation.

“In a sense, all my petitions have been denied. I have petitioned three times and requested to recuse the judge, I also declared that I don’t recognize this court.

“First, I petitioned for bringing Arsenii Yatseniuk to court as a witness. On July 5 this year he held a briefing where he stated that Pukach, the accused, and the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Lytvyn had been brought to President Yanukovych to Mezhyhiria. As nobody has either refuted or confirmed the information, I petitioned for subpoenaing Yatseniuk, so that he either brought evidence or refuted the information. But the judge said it had no relevance to the case. So, one may bring Pukach to whatever place they like (although it has been said before that it is not allowed unless there is court permission or Pukach’s sanctions), meet with him, and there will be no consequences. This is a juridical nonsense. I thought first the Kuchma family was trying to mislead everyone in this way, but now I doubt that was a lie. And if the judge is unwilling to sort it out, I think it is true.

“My second petition referred to the fact that there is no crime without a motive: this is theory and practice of law. The previous investigation established that the motive for Pukach’s crime were Kravchenko’s criminal instructions, ordered by Leonid Kuchma. At least Kuchma is mentioned in the verdict of guilty. In his testimony Pukach many times repeated that he was fulfilling the will of the president. So, the court investigation must call to court the person, who according to the testimony of the accused became the original reason for his crimes, Leonid Danylovych Kuchma. But the judge said that it has no relevance to the crimes committed by Pukach either.

“My third petition was about investigating the murder of Yurii Kravchenko as the main witness. I have said that the materials of investigation contain the proof of Kravchenko’s murder and I am ready to prove this in court. This also has a direct relevance to Pukach’s words, because Kravchenko would have been witness in this process and would have confirmed what he said. Without finding out who killed Kravchenko and for what reason, one cannot speak about Kuchma’s guilt or understand this case. Therefore I demanded from the court to investigate the case, so that we could find out whether Kravchenko was murdered or it was a suicide. Moreover, nobody has seen these materials, even the Kuchma family. They are beyond the society. This petition has also been denied. They said it had no relevance to the court proceedings in this case.

“Because of this situation, I petitioned for recusation of Justice Andrii Melnyk, motivating it by the fact that he is unwilling to examine anything and carry out a corresponding investigation. He simply performs the role of a political marionette. I also mentioned that Justice Melnyk is not personally interested in finding out the motives, who ordered the crime, or investigate the murders. Why? Because he was involved in falsifying the court proceedings which referred to the crimes of the Kuchma family. I mean the falsification of the verdict and court proceeding concerning the attempt on life of MP Oleksandr Yeliashkevych. I also reminded of the fact that 11 months ago I send a statement to General Prosecutor’s Office about this crime and asked them to consider it. I have not received any reply yet. They refused to recuse the judge, as they found my complaints ungrounded.

“Finally, I had to make a statement – in order to draw the attention of the society – that I categorically refuse to accept this court, because it is a low comedy of Pechersk sort. I refuse to take part in the court hearing presided over by Justice Melnyk. I have also stated that I am against carrying out any court proceedings without my participation. The judge said in reply, this is a paradox. I told him he is a master of paradox, too. As a result the court resolved they can hold further hearings without me, and I was offered an opportunity to leave the court.

“On the whole I have an impression that everything that refers to the Kuchma family is a taboo. So, I make a conclusion that the United Opposition should get rid of Mr. Yatseniuk, because the power is thoroughly protecting him. I dare predict that Yatseniuk’s mission in the opposition is to pull it down. Therefore the only hope remains for Klitschko and Tiahnybok. The Kuchma family promises to keep the image of the current power in the West, that is why all of their ‘mortal sins’ are being forgiven.”