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 byMykola Azarov
Succeeded byFedir Yaroshenko
Governor of Kherson Oblast
In office
2001–2002
Preceded byOleksandr Verbytskyi
Succeeded byAnatoliy Yurchenko
Minister of Internal Affairs
In office
1995–2001
Preceded byVolodymyr Radchenko
Succeeded byYuriy Smirnov
Chairman of the State Customs Committee of Ukraine
In office
1994–1995
Preceded byEduard Miroshnychenko (acting)
Succeeded byLeonid Derkach
Director of the Criminal Militsiya
In office
1992–1994
Director of MVS in Kirovohrad Oblast
In office
1989–1992
Personal details
Born(1951-03-05)March 5, 1951
Oleksandriia, Kirovohrad Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union
DiedMarch 4, 2005(2005-03-04) (aged 53)
near Kyiv, Ukraine
OccupationUkrainian police officer and statesman

Biography

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Born 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

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On 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

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Kravchenko 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

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References

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  1. ^ 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
  2. ^ 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)
  3. ^ Gongadze murder suspect's trial should be open to public, Committee to Protect Journalists (August 16, 2011)
  4. ^ Naboka, Marichka (2015-03-08). "Suicide Or Homicide? In Ukraine, Old-Guard Officials Dying Mysteriously". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 2015-12-31.
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Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Internal Affairs
1995–2001
Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by
Eduard Miroshnychenko
(acting)
Director of the State Customs Committee
1994–1995
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Oleksandr Verbytskyi
Governor of Kherson Oblast
2001–2002
Succeeded by
Anatoliy Yurchenko
Preceded by Director of the State Tax Administration
2002–2004
Succeeded by
Fedir Yaroshenko