Prosecutor: Yushchenko Poisoning An Attempt To Kill Him

Piskun earlier this year Kyiv, 12 October 2005 (RFE/RL) -- Ukrainian Prosecutor-General Svyatoslav Piskun said today that Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko's dioxin poisoning last year was an assassination attempt.

Piskun said that it has been, "Absolutely proven that Yushchenko was poisoned with the aim of murder." Piskun said he will not disclose the evidence to anyone.

Interfax also quotes Piskun as saying that the poisoning case was illegally closed by former Ukrainian Prosecutor-General Hennadiy Vasiliyev.

Yushchenko suffered dioxin poisoning during last year's presidential race. Yushchenko has always said that he was
poisoned by his political rivals.

There have been no charges in connection with the case.

(RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service/Interfax-Ukraine/AP)