(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is deploring the death sentence against Alexander Glek, who was found guilty of the August 1997 murder of journalist Boris Derevyanko. According to RSF’s information, on 19 March 1999, the Odessa court found Glek guilty of killing journalist Derevyanko and sentenced him to death by firing squad. The court found “the lure […]
(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is deploring the death sentence against Alexander Glek,
who
was found guilty of the August 1997 murder of journalist Boris
Derevyanko.
According to RSF’s information, on 19 March 1999, the Odessa court found
Glek guilty of killing journalist Derevyanko and sentenced him to death
by
firing squad. The court found “the lure of a reward” as the only motive.
Glek’s lawyer decided to appeal the ruling.
**Updates IFEX alert of 11 August 1997**
Derevyanko, editor-in-chief of the daily “Vetchernaïa Odessa” (The
Odessa
Evening) was shot and killed in Odessa on 11 August 1997. From the very
beginning of their inquiry, investigators thought the journalist had
been
the victim of a contract killing, having found several articles in his
unpublished archives concerning links between organised crime and the
upper
echelons of power. On 5 November 1998, Vladimir Melnikov, an assistant
to
the Interior Minister, stated that the journalist’s death “is linked to
his
professional activities and political stance.” On 16 November, the trial
of
Glek, accused of killing the journalist, got underway at the Odessa
court.
According to Glek, he was hired by Alexander Balachov, an old friend, to
carry out the murder, in exchange for US$20,000 (FF110,000). The weapon
used
to carry out the crime was allegedly supplied to him by one Galina
Tchumak,
who also directed him to Derevyanko’s residence.
Investigators were unable to locate Balachov and Tchumak. A few days
after
being put under investigation, Glek changed his statement. On 1
December, he
had notably stated that high-level police authorities had allegedly
forced
him to take responsibility for the murder. He was also allegedly
promised a
reduced sentence if he implicated Edward Gurvits, the current mayor of
Odessa, in this murder.
Deeply shocked by the result of this investigation, RSF will discuss the
matter with the French government, and particularly Lionel Jospin,
during
the visit of Ukranian Prime Minister Valeri Poustovoïtenko to France on
25
March.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the President:
death
sentence, noting that besides the inhuman nature of the sentence, this
decision may render impossible the identification of the individuals
behind
Derevyanko’s murder
be
commuted to a prison sentence
to
find those behind Derevyanko’s murder and see to it that they are tried
country of
the Council of Europe, which could lead to Ukraine’s suspension from the
organisation because of a lack of respect for human rights
Appeals To
Mr. Leonid Kuchma
President
11 Bankova Street
Office of the President
252005, Kiev
Ukraine
Fax: +380 44 291 51 17 / +380 44 293 1001
E-mail: postmaster@ribbon.kiev.ua
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
