PACE rapporteurs express concern at the ongoing detention of Yulia Tymoshenko
Strasbourg, 11.08.2011 – Mailis Reps (Estonia, ALDE) and Marietta de Pourbaix-Lundin (Sweden, EPP/CD), co-rapporteurs for the monitoring of Ukraine by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), have expressed concern at the ongoing detention of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.
“Her detention, ostensibly for contempt of court, strengthens the perception of the political nature of the charges against her, ” said the two rapporteurs. They added that this ongoing criminal procedure underscores the urgent need for further judicial reforms in Ukraine, as current legislation seems to provide for the possibility that political decisions can be criminalised when a new administration does not agree with them.
“Any politically-motivated prosecution of former government members would be unacceptable. We call upon the Ukrainian authorities to ensure Ms Tymoshenko’s immediate release and to exercise maximum restraint in the context of the trial against her as well as other former government members, ” added the co-rapporteurs.
Ms Reps and Ms de Pourbaix-Lundin will visit Ukraine from 19 to 23 September in the framework of the Assembly’s ongoing monitoring of Ukraine.