KIEV, April 26 - RAPSI. The widow of murdered journalist Georgy Gongadze appealed the court ruling to drop charges from former Ukrainian president Leonid Kuchma of involvement in her husband's murder.

A criminal case against Kuchma was opened in spring 2011, charging him with ordering the assassination of Gongadze in 2000.

Kuchma's defense challenged the case, alleging that he was never involved in the crime. The Kiev district court ruled to close the case due to lack of evidence in December 2011. The appeals court later upheld the judgment.

However, the case documents include an audio recording of Kuchma giving orders to "sort out" the journalist.

In 2008 three former Ukrainian Interior Ministry's officer were found guilty of murdering Gongadze and sentenced to imprisonment. In July 2009 the police arrested high-ranking Ukrainian official Alexei Pukach who confessed to murdering the journalist. His case is currently being heard behind closed doors.