Hard-hitting Resolution on Ukraine also likely from US Congress
Glavkom reports that the US Congress is presently agreeing a resolution on political repression in Ukraine with the White House and US State Department. The Resolution was tabled in Congress on 13 October by the Chairperson of the Congress Committee on Ukraine (a Democrat) and is expected to be passed in the near future.
Glavkom says that it has received the draft Resolution and provides an unofficial Ukrainian translation. The Resolution condemns the sentencing of Yulia Tymoshenko and the unfair conditions during the court proceedings. It calls for her release from prison while her case is under appeal. It calls for the release of all political prisoners, and for prisoners to be provided with proper medical care.
It also demands that Ukraine observe the principles of democracy and the rule of law, respecting human rights and press freedom, freedom of speech and peaceful assembly.
The author of the report notes that after such a resolution, Yanukovych would not be able to shake President Obama’s hand, and suggests that the next step could be a list of people declared persona non grata as over the death in Russian detention of lawyer Sergei Magnitsky.