Associated Press: Protesters Demand Kuchma's Ouster
02/12/2001 | Broker
Sunday February 11 5:26 PM ET
Protesters Demand Kuchma's Ouster
By SERGEI SHARGORODSKY, Associated Press Writer
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) - Chanting and carrying a giant Ukrainian flag, protesters marched through the capital Sunday to demand the ouster of President Leonid Kuchma, accusing him of playing a role in the disappearance of an opposition journalist.
The third demonstration in a week came hours before Kuchma welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin (news - web sites), who arrived Sunday evening for talks. Rising tension about the missing journalist has embarrassed the Ukrainian president and forged an unlikely alliance between nationalist and leftist forces.
``Down with Kuchma!'' the demonstrators chanted, as they gathered on Kiev's main street near a tent camp raised by protesters in December.
Young men wearing black masks guarded the camp, concealing their faces to avoid being recognized by security agents they believed were filming the protest.
``I bless you in this struggle. Victory shall be ours because God is with us,'' said Father Mykhailo, a Ukrainian priest among the demonstrators who marched to Kiev from provincial towns.
Critics claim Kuchma played a role in the disappearance of Heorhiy Gongadze, a journalist who criticized alleged high-level corruption and disappeared in September. A beheaded body found near Kiev in November is believed to be Gongadze.
A former presidential bodyguard later provided audio recordings of purported conversations between Kuchma and top aides, with Kuchma allegedly fuming in obscene language about Gongadze and urging action to silence the journalist. The tapes were made public by opposition Socialist Party leader, Oleksandr Moroz.
Kuchma and other accused officials have strongly denied involvement, and authorities say the tapes were fabricated.
On Saturday, Kuchma abruptly ousted the chief of Ukraine's security service, Leonid Derkach, and the head of the state bodyguard department, Volodymyr Shepel.
Moroz called said the dismissals were ``yet another circumstantial proof'' that the tapes were genuine. The demonstrators laid a funeral wreath with Derkach's picture at the door of the security service office on Sunday and demanded other top officials be fired.
Kuchma lashed out at the protesters over the weekend, saying their actions were a threat to national security.
Ukraine, a former Soviet republic, remains deeply divided between those who want closer ties with Russia, those who are nostalgic for Soviet times, and nationalists who accuse Kuchma of being subservient to Russia. All are unhappy with Kuchma's failure to improve Ukraine's economy and curb corruption.
Putin arrived late Sunday in the Ukrainian industrial city of Dnipropetrovsk, about 200 miles southeast of Kiev, where he was greeted by Kuchma. Their official meetings were to begin Monday.
Post-Soviet ties between Russia and Ukraine have been marred by energy disputes and mutual accusations concerning alleged discrimination of minorities.
Protesters Demand Kuchma's Ouster
By SERGEI SHARGORODSKY, Associated Press Writer
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) - Chanting and carrying a giant Ukrainian flag, protesters marched through the capital Sunday to demand the ouster of President Leonid Kuchma, accusing him of playing a role in the disappearance of an opposition journalist.
The third demonstration in a week came hours before Kuchma welcomed Russian President Vladimir Putin (news - web sites), who arrived Sunday evening for talks. Rising tension about the missing journalist has embarrassed the Ukrainian president and forged an unlikely alliance between nationalist and leftist forces.
``Down with Kuchma!'' the demonstrators chanted, as they gathered on Kiev's main street near a tent camp raised by protesters in December.
Young men wearing black masks guarded the camp, concealing their faces to avoid being recognized by security agents they believed were filming the protest.
``I bless you in this struggle. Victory shall be ours because God is with us,'' said Father Mykhailo, a Ukrainian priest among the demonstrators who marched to Kiev from provincial towns.
Critics claim Kuchma played a role in the disappearance of Heorhiy Gongadze, a journalist who criticized alleged high-level corruption and disappeared in September. A beheaded body found near Kiev in November is believed to be Gongadze.
A former presidential bodyguard later provided audio recordings of purported conversations between Kuchma and top aides, with Kuchma allegedly fuming in obscene language about Gongadze and urging action to silence the journalist. The tapes were made public by opposition Socialist Party leader, Oleksandr Moroz.
Kuchma and other accused officials have strongly denied involvement, and authorities say the tapes were fabricated.
On Saturday, Kuchma abruptly ousted the chief of Ukraine's security service, Leonid Derkach, and the head of the state bodyguard department, Volodymyr Shepel.
Moroz called said the dismissals were ``yet another circumstantial proof'' that the tapes were genuine. The demonstrators laid a funeral wreath with Derkach's picture at the door of the security service office on Sunday and demanded other top officials be fired.
Kuchma lashed out at the protesters over the weekend, saying their actions were a threat to national security.
Ukraine, a former Soviet republic, remains deeply divided between those who want closer ties with Russia, those who are nostalgic for Soviet times, and nationalists who accuse Kuchma of being subservient to Russia. All are unhappy with Kuchma's failure to improve Ukraine's economy and curb corruption.
Putin arrived late Sunday in the Ukrainian industrial city of Dnipropetrovsk, about 200 miles southeast of Kiev, where he was greeted by Kuchma. Their official meetings were to begin Monday.
Post-Soviet ties between Russia and Ukraine have been marred by energy disputes and mutual accusations concerning alleged discrimination of minorities.