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Georgiy R. Gongadze (in Ukrainian Heorhiy Ruslanovych Honhadze) (May 21, 1969 – 2000) was a Ukrainian journalist kidnapped and murdered in 2000. His disappearance became Ukraine's top political crime after politician Oleksandr Moroz publicized secret tape recordings, supposedly made by Major Mykola Mel'nychenko. Those recordings contain the supposed voice of President Leonid Kuchma ordering Gongadze's kidnapping by police officers. This scandal (called "Cassette Scandal" or "Tapegate") has had a tremendous long-term impact on Ukraine's politics and international relations (see also Politics of Ukraine).
Later Gongadze's body was found beheaded in a forest near Ukraine's capital Kyiv, but relatives continuously refused to recognize the body as that of Gongadze. The body was buried following lasting forensic and legal disputes.
His wife, Myroslava, and their two children received political asylum in the United States and have lived there since.
Gongadze was a founder and leader of Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukrainian Truth), Ukraine's most influential political Web site. His lifestory also includes participation in war in native Georgia and later a successful journalism career in various Ukrainian media (i.e., television news).
September 16 2000 (the last day when Gongadze was seen alive) is commonly recognized as his commemoration date, although there is no judicial verdict regarding the circumstances of the death.
Name spelling disambiguation
Note that the pronunciation and sometimes spelling of Gongadze's name may differ following the phonetics of different languages. The proper Georgian name Georgi Gongadze became Георгий Гонгадзе in Russian and Георгiй Гонгадзе in Ukrainian. While Г is pronounced as G in Russian, its pronunciation in Ukrainian has no close match in English and is transliterated as H. This is why Gongadze (born in Ukraine and excellent Ukrainian speaker) was often mentioned as Heorhiy Honhadze in Ukrainian. It is probable that his official passport name was also spelled so. Some sources also refer to him as Georgy Gongadze.
External links
In English:
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