Update on Yulia Tymoshenko

 

Ukraine’s Tymoshenko sentenced to 7 years in jail

By Maria Danilova Associated Press / October 11, 2011

 

KIEV, Ukraine—Ukraine’s former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on Tuesday was sentenced to seven years in prison on charges of abuse of office in signing a gas deal with Russia, a verdict immediately condemned by both the European Union and Russia as politically motivated.

Tymoshenko, the driving force of the 2004 pro-democracy Orange Revolution and now the nation’s top opposition leader, denounced the trial as rigged by President Viktor Yanukovych to get rid of a political opponent.

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Prosecution of Ukrainian Opposition Leaders

I was disappointed when Tymosheko dropped her challenge of the election results.  She should not be prosecuted. (Cross-posted @Still4Hill.)

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (L) shakes hands with former Ukrainian prime minister and opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko as they meet in Kiev, July 2, 2010. Clinton told Ukraine on Friday that the door to entering NATO remained open and she backed the ex-Soviet republic’s efforts to secure a new deal with the International Monetary Fund. REUTERS/Alexander Prokopenko/Pool (UKRAINE – Tags: POLITICS)

Press Statement

Victoria Nuland
Department Spokesperson, Office of the Spokesperson

Washington, DC

June 24, 2011

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The United States is aware of the opening of the trial against former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and reiterates its concern about the appearance of politically-motivated prosecutions of opposition figures in Ukraine. When the senior leadership of an opposition party is the focus of prosecutions, out of proportion with other political figures, this creates the appearance of a political motive. We urge the Government of Ukraine to refrain from actions that create such an appearance and undermine the rule of law in Ukraine. We will closely monitor the legal proceedings against Yulia Tymoshenko and other opposition figures.

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