High-Profile Ukrainian Whistle-Blower Arrested On Arrival In Kyiv

Mykola Melnychenko, the former chief of Ukraine's presidential bodyguard service

Ukraine's Security Service says it has arrested the former chief of the presidential bodyguard service, Mykola Melnychenko.

Melnychenko was reportedly detained at Kyiv's Boryspil Airport on October 24.

He made headlines in 2000 after he publicly revealed conversations he said he recorded in the office of then-Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma.

The recordings appeared to show Kuchma's involvement into the murder of journalist Heorhiy Gongadze and high-level corruption.

A Ukrainian court dropped all charges against Kuchma in December 2011.

Melnychenko is being charged with abuse of office and divulging state secrets.

In August, Melnychenko was detained on an Interpol warrant in Naples, Italy, but released days later.

It's unclear why Melnychenko returned to Ukraine.

Based on reporting by AP, AFP, and RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service