Borys Anikeychyk, a witness in a government corruption case, died in an Odesa hospital on 16 March as a result of gunshot wounds sustained the previous day, the "Eastern Economist" reported.  Anikeychyk, who was shot by unknown assailants, had recently testified in a court case that Odessa Mayor Eduard Hurvits had accepted a bribe.  Odessa Oblast Administration Chairman Ruslan Bodelan, who is running for mayor against Hurvits, called on Hurvits to step down from his post.  The two have been locked in a brutal power struggle for some time (see "RFE/RL Newsline," 3 March 1998).

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