Ukraine's Security Chief Says Ex-Official Killed Himself (shot twice in the head)

OSCOW, March 5 - The chief of Ukraine's security service said Saturday that the country's former interior minister, Yuri F. Kravchenko, had shot himself twice in the head on Friday, refuting speculation that he had been killed by someone else.

The official announcement and a note found in Mr. Kravchenko's pocket, the security chief added, left little doubt that Mr. Kravchenko had committed suicide.

Oleksandr V. Turchinov, chairman of the Security Service of Ukraine, said in televised remarks that the note left by Mr. Kravchenko could provide significant details for prosecutors investigating the killing of Georgy Gongadze, a prominent journalist whose death in 2000 provoked protests and international criticism of Leonid D. Kuchma, who was then the president.

Mr. Kravchenko, who served as interior minister at the time of Mr. Gongadze's abduction and killing, was found dead Friday at a country cottage outside Kiev.

He had been scheduled to meet prosecutors on Friday for questioning about his involvement in Mr. Gongadze's case or his knowledge of the details surrounding it.

Mr. Turchinov was recently appointed by the new president, Viktor A. Yushchenko, who has vowed to revive the long-stalled investigation into Mr. Gongadze's death. Mr. Turchinov said in an interview on Ukraine's 1+1 television network that Mr. Kravchenko had been "one of the prime suspects."

His death has roiled Ukraine's politics, with some leading lawmakers criticizing the government's handling of the investigation and others calling for more arrests, including Mr. Kuchma's. Mr. Kuchma, who had been vacationing in the Czech Republic after stepping down in January, returned to Ukraine on Saturday after again denying that he had had anything to do with Mr. Gongadze's killing.

Mr. Turchinov, who examined the cottage and the shed where Mr. Kravchenko died, declined to describe the contents of the note, but indicated that Mr. Kravchenko's death had not brought the investigation to a halt.

"It provides quite a lot of information for the investigation," he said of the note, according to Interfax. "The note concerns particular people who are also suspects in the case. It provides investigators with a chance to plan the further direction of the investigation."

After years of inaction under Mr. Kuchma, the investigation has gathered momentum, raising speculation that senior members of Mr. Kuchma's government could face arrest and trial for Mr. Gongadze's killing, one of the most prominent and symbolic crimes committed in Ukraine since the country regained independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Earlier this week, Mr. Yushchenko and the prosecutor general, Svyatoslav M. Piskun, announced that they had arrested three suspects, a general and two colonels who worked under Mr. Kravchenko. They also said they knew who had orchestrated the crime, though they did not elaborate. Mr. Piskun also publicly identified Mr. Kravchenko as a witness, announcing in advance that Mr. Kravchenko would be questioned by investigators on the day he died.

Mr. Turchinov said Mr. Kravchenko's daughter was walking the family's dog in the yard of the house in Koncha-Zaspa, an elite enclave that includes the country cottages of many of the country's political leaders, when Mr. Kravchenko went into a shed and fired two shots with a pistol registered to him. The first shot went through his chin and out his mouth, Mr. Turchinov said. The second bullet entered his right temple.

At least Putin and Russia have embraced Russia. The greatest revival in Christianity is going on there, but in Old Europe they people are dead to God. Even Britian has rejected God, and spiritualism is the majority religion there.

This perfectly describes Europe:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. 15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. NIV (Re 3:14-18).

At least Putin and Russia have embraced Russia. The greatest revival in Christianity is going on there, but in Old Europe they people are dead to God. Even Britian has rejected God, and spiritualism is the majority religion there.

This perfectly describes Europe:

These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. NIV (Re 3:14-18).

Do you know that Islam is a state religion in russia ? I think I should write about it in every article about russia - people should know the truth...

WRONG! I think you should learn what you are talking about prior to making rash statements. From the State Department's site regarding relgion in Russia we find the following:
http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2003/24430.htm

Legal/Policy Framework

The Constitution provides for freedom of religion and the Government generally respects this right in practice; however, in some cases the authorities imposed restrictions on some groups. The Constitution also provides for the equality of all religions before the law and the separation of church and state; however, the Government did not always respect this provision.

The law on freedom of religion was adopted in 1990 by the Russian Federation’s Supreme Court and remained the same until a new law was adopted in 1997. The 1990 law declared all religions equal before the law, prohibited government interference in religion, and established simple registration procedures for religious groups. Registration of religious groups was not required, but groups could obtain a number of advantages by registering, such as the ability to establish official places of worship or benefit from tax exemptions. The 1990 law helped facilitate a revival of religious activity. In 1997 a supplemental law on religion was passed: The Law on Freedom of Conscience. Although the 1997 law does not recognize a state religion, its preamble identifies Russian Orthodoxy, Judaism, Islam, and Buddhism as "traditional religions" and recognizes the "special contribution of Orthodoxy to the history of Russia and to the establishment and development of Russia's spirituality and culture."

Neither the Constitution nor the 1997 law accords explicit privileges or advantages to "traditional religions;" however, many politicians and public figures argue for closer cooperation with them, above all with the Russian Orthodox Church's Moscow Patriarchate. The Russian Orthodox Church has entered into a number of agreements, some formal, others informal, with government ministries on such matters as guidelines for public education, religious training for military personnel, and law enforcement and customs decisions, giving the Russian Orthodox Church special access to institutions such as schools, hospitals, prisons, the police, the FSB, and the army.

Many government officials, along with other citizens, equate Russian Orthodoxy with Russian nationhood. This belief appears to have manifested itself in a church-state relationship. For example, the Russian Orthodox Church has made special arrangements with government agencies to conduct religious education and to provide spiritual counseling. These include agreements with the Ministries of Education, Defense, Health, Interior, and other bodies, such as Emergency Situations, Tax, Federal Border Service, and Main Department of Cossack Forces under the President. The details of these agreements are far from transparent, but available information indicates that the Russian Orthodox Church appears to receive more favorable treatment than other denominations. Public statements by some government officials and anecdotal evidence from religious minority groups suggest that the Russian Orthodox Church, increasingly since 1999, has enjoyed a status that approaches official. Election campaign teams often include members of the Russian Orthodox clergy. The clergy also frequently plays a special role at official events at both the local and national level. Nonetheless, policymakers remain divided on the State's proper relationship with the Russian Orthodox Church and other churches. The 1997 law ostensibly targeted so-called "totalitarian sects" or dangerous religious "cults." The intent of some of the law's sponsors, however, appears to have been to discriminate against members of foreign and less well-known religions by making it difficult for them to establish religious organizations in the country. For example, many officials in law enforcement and the legislative branches speak of the need to protect the "spiritual security" of the country by discouraging the growth of "sects" and "cults," usually understood to include Protestant and newer religious movements.

He's an EU troll and a bigotted racist who recoils when his own slave mentality to the EU is shown under the light of day. What do you expect from him/it but lies? Oh and William Creel has decided to make an ass of himself by claiming I've never even been to NC. Care to collaberate for me the various locations on Ft. Bragg? None sensitive of course. How about that Bisquit Ville on Bragg, right before the post? Make some damn good bisquits and gravy. Nice folks to. The new commissary that is almost done, near the Bragg entrance, that'll be nice to, the old one had to much of a Food Lion feeling. Of course, the Class Six is in a great location, better then the other Class Six on the opposite side of the post, where you actually have to drive outside the arched aluminum gates/rain cover to get to it and then get back on Yadkin and drive back through the security to get back on post.

Ever been to Charlotte? Used to have a really nice pre-civil war downtown, to bad it all got torn down, except for the one methodist church and its bone yard. And the parking is horrid. Not as bad as Raleigh's though. Since there is only what, like two parking decks in the downtown area. Now, the Fayetville Street mall area is nice in Raleigh, though the park across from the area is rather dangerous, the one with the Acorn. All the bums that congrigate, especially if you're leaving at midnight or later from some of the bars, like the Bahama Breeze. Nice concept, dueling piano bar, but it was better five years ago when it was on Six Forks, had more room, the new place is just to damn crowded, no place to turn around.

But at least there are a couple of place on the street perpendicular to that one to go to: Tier An Og, isn't bad, and it's never crowded any more. Never figured out, though, why an irish bar never plays irish music but blue grass and country. Never made much sense. The three dart boards are cool though and there are usually a lot of younger women there, if you are single.

By the way, WC, when ever you feel like an idiot and that you've shoved both your feet in your mouth, you just let me know, ok-doky?

As for Charlotte, to damn quiet for my likings. Good family place but not enough bars. There's a few out along Harris, near the university but the university is a suitcase college, everyone leaves on the weekends. No fraternity row either, not that that matters to me anymore, but it did 8 years ago. The Cellar was a good bar, till some pissed off mental midget burned it down to get back at the owner, her x-boyfriend. There are some not so bad yuppish bars along highway 51, south Charlotte. The one in Cameron Crossings isn't bad, nice sports bar, can't remember the name. Has live music Thursday through Sat and a good amount of billards tables.

Should I go into Durham, Chapel Hill, Fayetville itself? Or maybe Willmington? How about Myrtle Beach, I know that's SC, but what the hay, the issue here is to make you look like the fool you are WC.

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