A supporter of outgoing Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych was found shot to death with a gun by his body at his holiday retreat near the capital of Kiev. It seems there is a rushing to cover this story as not related to the recent elections by the BBC, but I somehow doubt that will stand. Another oddity I've found is the spelling of this mans name. It seems to be interchangeable between Kirpa and Kyrpa. The Scotsman even uses both spellings in the same article. Strange.

BBC (via Captain's Quarters)

The minister is reported to have gunshot wounds and officials said a gun was found near his body.

Mr Kyrpa, 58, appointed in 2002, was a staunch supporter of Prime Minister Viktor Yanukovych.

There are no reports his death is linked to Mr Yanukovych's defeat by opposition leader Viktor Yushchenko in Sunday's presidential poll re-run.

A government source told Reuters news agency it was not clear whether Mr Kyrpa had killed himself.

I don't know about you, but I don't think there's many cases of suicide with multiple gunshot wounds to the body.

Here's a slightly different take to the above nice BBC story.

Scotsman (via Daily Pundit)

A Ukranian minister accused of being behind the plan to move tens of thousands of government supporters around the country to engage in illegal multiple voting in November’s annulled presidential election, was found shot dead last night.

...

Following the re-run election on Boxing Day and the victory for opposition leader Victor Yushchenko, Mr Kyrpa had been expected to face questioning and possible criminal prosecution for his part in the November vote rigging.

Speculation in Kiev last night among demonstrators and diplomats was that he may have been assassinated by those fearing he would give investigators details of the extent of November’s vote- rigging operation.

Other Commentary:

Ace of Spades

Crossposted to The Command Post