Den avsatte statsministeren i Ukraina, Julia Timosjenko, anklager en nær medarbeider av president Viktor Jusjtsjenko for å sabotere oppklaringen av drapet på gravejournalisten Gongadze.

Yulia Timoshenko, who was sacked 10 days ago as prime minister, said a secret operation to arrest one of the 2_kommentar suspects in the murder of Georgy Gongadze was sabotaged when a prosecutor close to the president’s entourage leaked details of a plan to arrest him.

Timoshenko was speaking in her first interview with a western newspaper since leaving the government which was propelled to power by last year’s revolution. She said some of those around Yushchenko were guilty of extortion and corruption.

The former prime minister, whose previous career in business made her Ukraine’s wealthiest woman, also claimed that the president was reneging on a pledge to bring Leonid Kuchma, his predecessor, to justice on corruption charges.

Oppklaringen av drapet på Gongadze var ett av hovedkravene i den orange revolusjonen.

Sources close to Timoshenko said they suspected the leak was part of a cover-up to protect a Ukrainian politician who they believe is implicated in the journalist’s murder. They claim that the politician is being protected in return for his support.

Timoshenko’s version of events was supported by Oleksander Turchynov, a close ally who until his resignation last week was the head of the SBU, Ukraine’s former KGB.

President’s aides in murder ‘cover-up’