KIEV, October 24 - RAPSI. The Ukrainian Security Service and the Border Service have detained Nikolai Melnichenko at the Boryspil International Airport, the Security Service has reported on Wednesday.

Melnichenko was a bodyguard of former President Leonid Kuchma. He was previously placed on the international wanted list.

The bodyguard became widely known after he recorded an individual who sounded like Kuchma giving orders in the presidential office to "settle affairs" with journalist Georgy Gongadze, whose beheaded body was later found in the Kiev region in autumn 2000.

As a result, Kuchma was accused of having been involved in the murder. However, the court ruled that the case against him was illegal, as the recording was taken without permission.

A criminal case has been launched against Melnichenko for disclosing state secrets, abuse of power and creating artificial evidence. As he has avoided contact with the investigators, the Security Service placed him on the international wanted list last autumn.