Germany’s Human Rights Ombudsperson Markus Lönung believes that pressure must be placed on the Ukrainian authorities over the politically motivated trials taking place in Ukraine

The first day of hearings took place on Thursday into the new charges against former Prime Minister and opposition leader, Yulia Tymoshenko, who was sentenced to 7 years imprisonment over the 2009 gas accords with Russia

Former Deputy Ministers when Yury Lutsenko was Minister of the Interior have started up a collection to pay the 643 thousand UAH which the court ordered Lutsenko to pay

The Kharkiv City Council’s Executive Committee will be asking the court to ban the protests planned for 19 April outside the Kharkiv Court of Appeal where the case against former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko will be heard

The former Kharkiv Regional Governor, ally of imprisoned opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko and likely successful candidate in this year’s parliamentary elections refutes assertions from the Prosecutor General’s Office that he is under house arrest

On 17 April 2012 the European Court of Human Rights held a public chamber hearing in the case of Lutsenko v. Ukraine, this case specifically regarding the grounds and circumstances of the former Interior Minister’s detention

"We are deeply disappointed in this latest example of selective justice in Ukraine and call for his release, particularly given the state of his health after 18 months in pre-trial detention"

Former Acting Defence Minister in Yulia Tymoshenko’s government, Valery Ivashchenko who was sentenced on Thursday to 5 years imprisonment, has accused presiding judge Serhiy Vovk of torture over his treatment on Monday this week

Markus Lönung called what is happening in Ukraine “a step backwards” and a huge disappointment. He noted a considerable deterioration in press freedom and freedom in expressing views in the media, as well as restrictions on freedom of assembly.

The former Kharkiv Regional Governor, ally of imprisoned opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko and likely successful candidate in this year’s parliamentary elections was detained on 25 March after the Ukrainian authorities initiated criminal proceedings against him over alleged “abuse of power”

Ivashchenko’s case is among those arousing most accusations of selective prosecution of members of Yulia Tymoshenko’s government. He has been convicted of “abusing his position” in November 2009 while Acting Minister of Defence by signing a plan to sell the Feodosia Marine Engineering Works

The prison authorities are claiming that Valery Ivashchenko does not have any illness which should prevent him from attending the court hearing on Thursday expected to pass verdict in one of the cases which has aroused international concern despite Monday’s hearing having been held with Mr Ivashchenko lying on a stretcher

Valery Ivashchenko, former Acting Defence Minister in Yulia Tymoshenko’s government, was brought to the court on a stretcher. His prosecution is one of those most frequently named as giving rise to serious doubts about the rule of law and lack of political motivation

Mr Kozhemyakhin stated on Monday that he will be asking the Italian authorities to refuse to extradite Arsen Avakov on the grounds that the charges against him are politically motivated

In yet another highly disturbing case, Georgy Filipchuk, former Environment Minister in Yulia Tymoshenko’s government has been sentenced to three years imprisonment for “abuse of power and official position”

UK Minister for Europe: Association Agreement is unlikely to be signed and ratified unless opposition leaders jailed as a result of flawed trials are freed and permitted to participate in politics.

“We are very concerned by the selective prosecution of key opposition figures, the ’family-ization’ of corruption, and stress the importance of free and fair elections in October 2012 for Ukraine’s democratic development."

While measures have been taken over the last few days clearly aimed at allaying concern about Yulia Tymoshenko’s health, there has been no let up in the coordinated efforts seen since October to add other criminal charges. Quite the contrary as one event on Wednesday demonstrated

The letter is signed by the Head of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Kyiv Patriarchate); the Head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church; Bishop Markiyan Trofymiak of the Roman Catholic Church; the Head of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church and representatives of a number of Evangelical Churches

The court hearing, scheduled for 2 April 2012 into charges against former Minister of the Interior Yury Lutsenko and two other people over alleged unlawful surveillance has been adjourned until 23 April, 6 days after the public consideration of his application by the European Court of Human Rights