Yuriy Fedorovych Kravchenko (Ukrainian: Юрій Федорович Кравченко; March 5, 1951 – March 4, 2005) was a Ukrainian General of Internal Service and statesman, serving as the country's Minister of Internal Affairs (1995—2001). In 2000, while he was serving as the Minister of Internal Affairs, Kravchenko became directly involved in the murder case of Georgiy Gongadze and the subsequent "Cassette Scandal." Kravechenko later was the governor of the Kherson Oblast (2001—2002) and Head of the State Tax Administration of Ukraine (2002—2003).
Yuriy Kravchenko | |
|---|---|
Юрій Кравченко | |
 Kravchenko in 2000 | |
| Chairman of the State Tax Administration of Ukraine | |
| In office 2002–2004 | |
| Preceded by | Mykola Azarov |
| Succeeded by | Fedir Yaroshenko |
| Governor of Kherson Oblast | |
| In office 2001–2002 | |
| Preceded by | Oleksandr Verbytskyi |
| Succeeded by | Anatoliy Yurchenko |
| Minister of Internal Affairs | |
| In office 1995–2001 | |
| Preceded by | Volodymyr Radchenko |
| Succeeded by | Yuriy Smirnov |
| Chairman of the State Customs Committee of Ukraine | |
| In office 1994–1995 | |
| Preceded by | Eduard Miroshnychenko (acting) |
| Succeeded by | Leonid Derkach |
| Director of the Criminal Militsiya | |
| In office 1992–1994 | |
| Director of MVS in Kirovohrad Oblast | |
| In office 1989–1992 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 5, 1951 Oleksandriia, Kirovohrad Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union |
| Died | March 4, 2005 (aged 53) near Kyiv, Ukraine |
| Occupation | Ukrainian police officer and statesman |
Biography
editBorn in Oleksandriia, Kirovohrad Oblast, Kravchenko attended the Oleksandriia Industrial Technical School from 1966 to 1970. In October 1970, he became an electrictian and worked in the Kirovohrad Oblast. Served in the Soviet Army from 1970 to 1972. From 1974 until 1978, he studied at the Higher School of the MVD of the USSR, and afterwards worked as a police inspector in the Kirovohrad Oblast. From 1981 to 1986, he worked in several supervisory positions. In April 1986, Kravchenko became the head of the department for combating drug trade in the Criminal Investigation Directorate of the MVD of the Ukrainian SSR. In September 1989, he became the head of the MVD regional directorate in the Kirovohrad Oblast.
Gongadze Case and Cassette Scandal
editOn 29 January 2013 a Ukrainian court ruled Oleksiy Pukach had murdered the journalist Georgiy Gongadze on orders from Kravchenko, who was seeking a career promotion.[1]
Death
editKravchenko was found dead in his apartment near Kyiv on March 4, 2005. He was at that time called as a witness in the murder case of Gongadze. It was claimed that Kravchenko committed suicide. Some news reports claim that he was shot twice in the head.[2][3][4]
See also
editReferences
edit
- ^ Court sentences Pukach to life for murdering Gongadze, disregards claims against Kuchma, Lytvyn, Kyiv Post (29 January 2013)
Ukraine police officer accuses ex-president after being jailed for life, Reuters (29 January 2013)
Gongadze killer pointed on Kuchma and Lytvyn. LIGABusinessInform. 2013-1-29 - ^ Untimely Deaths in Ukraine; Strange suicides and car crashes among foes of the former regime bring calls for investigations by Kim Murphy, L.A. Times (March 13, 2005)
- ^ Gongadze murder suspect's trial should be open to public, Committee to Protect Journalists (August 16, 2011)
- ^ Naboka, Marichka (2015-03-08). "Suicide Or Homicide? In Ukraine, Old-Guard Officials Dying Mysteriously". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
External links
edit- (in Ukrainian) The Key Witness in the Gongadze Case Dead (March 2005 Ukrayinska Pravda article on the death of Kravchenko, analysing also his role in Gongadze case - includes fragments of the Melnychenko recordings featuring Kravchenko)