Nikolai Melnychenko’s 2004 Moscow Visit: FSB Talks, Yushchenko Poisoning, and Kuchma’s Involvement

Nikolai Melnychenko’s Stay in Moscow and His Role in the 2000 Events

According to Radiotrek — Світ: In an interview with Oleksiy Stepura, former UDO major Nikolai Melnychenko shared insights about his involvement in the events of 2000, focusing especially on his time in Moscow in September 2004 during the poisoning of Viktor Yushchenko. Melnychenko, who recently celebrated his 60th birthday in New Jersey surrounded by family and friends, recalled that in May 2004, an FSB agent invited him to Moscow. According to Melnychenko, it was at this time that 'Kuchma asked Putin to purchase Melnychenko's recordings.'

Melnychenko stayed in Moscow from August 28 to September 20, 2004. During this period, he claims Viktor Yushchenko was poisoned. In London, Alexander Litvinenko introduced Melnychenko to an FSB agent. The agent presented the FSB’s proposal:

'No, they want you to come to Russia.'

Melnychenko’s reaction was incredulous: 'Are you out of your mind? Me? To Russia? You’ve really lost it!' The FSB general Melnychenko met confirmed he was acting under orders from Deputy Head Bortnikov, who had received directives directly from the FSB Head and Vladimir Putin.

While in Moscow, Melnychenko was accommodated at the Rossiya Hotel under a false name. He met with the FSB agent and General Pavel Nikolayevich, who instructed him to personally deliver a photograph to Kuchma via Lyovochkin during a meeting in Budapest. Upon returning to New York, Melnychenko met with Yelyashkevych and then traveled to Washington to discuss compensation with Myroslava Gongadze. Gongadze declined to travel to Moscow, requesting Melnychenko to negotiate on her behalf.

Together, Melnychenko and Yelyashkevych flew to Moscow for talks with Pavel Nikolayevich, confirming their willingness to negotiate but insisting on meeting Kuchma or his authorized representative. Igor Bakai was designated as Kuchma’s negotiator. As Melnychenko recounted, 'The general returned after two hours to say that Bakai would be here that evening.' After Bakai reported the negotiations to the Russian Presidential Administration and FSB, Melnychenko was visited in his hotel by Smeshko and Volodymyr Satsyuk from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).

Melnychenko recalled that after speaking with Satsyuk, he became convinced that Medvedchuk was plotting something. He expressed fears that Kuchma might consider eliminating him. Events proceeded normally until, as Melnychenko stated, 'we learned from the media about Yushchenko’s poisoning.' The FSB general responded by claiming, to his knowledge, 'the poisoning was a PR stunt by Yushchenko.'

Impact on the Political Landscape

Melnychenko’s time in Moscow played a significant role in the political maneuvering surrounding the 2000 events, which continue to provoke questions and debate. These developments remain crucial for understanding the political dynamics between Ukraine and Russia.

The revelations and testimonies about this period still influence current political discourse, as the facts behind Yushchenko’s poisoning continue to be discussed internationally. This situation demands ongoing scrutiny, as it not only pertains to historical events but also relates to present-day security challenges in the region.