Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko is urging that the trial of former police officers charged in the slaying of journalist Georgy Gongadze to be opened to the public.
Oleh Rybachuk, a top aide to Mr. Yushchenko, went to the courthouse in Kiev Wednesday to express the president's anger over the closed proceedings.
The three former officers are on trial for the abduction and decapitation of Gongadze in 2000.
Gongadze had been critical of then-President Leonid Kuchma.
A former presidential bodyguard has accused Mr. Kuchma of ordering the killing, and released what he said were recordings of the former president and other government officials conspiring against the journalist.
Mr. Kuchma has denied any involvement. President Yushchenko has vowed to solve the case.
Some information for this report was provided by AP .