US Considers Arresting Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma

Washington is seriously considering the possibility of arresting Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, according to Taras Chernovil, a Ukrainian MP and one of the leaders of the Rise Up, Ukraine! movement. Mr Chernovil gave a press conference yesterday after his return on Monday from the US, where he discussed questions of freedom of speech and the public situation in Ukraine.

According to Chernovil, the US State Department 'has taken up a hard-line position regarding the Ukrainian President.' Last Saturday the Ukrainian opposition leader officially accused Kuchma of being involved in the death of his father - the well-known Ukrainian dissident Vyacheslav Chernovil.

Taras Chernovil claimed that the US State Department intends to launch criminal proceedings against Kuchma on charges of illegal weapons sales, money laundering, and the misuse of power. The American authorities also intend to freeze a series of Western bank accounts belonging to the Ukrainian President.