EU-Ukraine: Concerns about treatment of Ms Tymoshenko
The treatment of the imprisoned former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and other former politicians was the main topic of the meeting between the Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy, Štefan Füle and the First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, Valeriy Khoroshkovsky in Brussels today. Commissioner Füle expressed his extreme concern about the recent reports on the treatment of Ms Tymoshenko, and insisted that the Ukrainian authorities immediately clarify what had happened during Ms Tymoshenko's transfer from prison to hospital on 20 April and afterwards. The Commissioner also underlined the need for Ukraine to grant access to Ms Tymoshenko for her legal advisers, family, appropriate independent persons, and the EU ambassador to Ukraine.
The Commissioner reminded the First Deputy Prime Minister that it was crucial for Ukraine to demonstrate a solid commitment to the rule of law and democratic values in order to facilitate further steps towards the signature and ratification of the Association Agreement. He underlined that Ukraine should make every effort to dispel concerns about politically motivated trials and the selective use of justice as part of a broader judiciary reform. In this context, he also stressed the need for Ukraine to respect fully the legal and human rights of defendants and detainees, including their medical care.
Today's meeting, which was the first official bilateral meeting between Commissioner Füle and First Deputy Prime Minister Khoroshkovsky, was also an opportunity to discuss briefly other recent developments in EU-Ukraine relations.