Protestors scuffle with police; photo - EPA/Aleksandr Propopenko
Jerzy Buzek, the President of the European Parliament, has said that a Kiev court's decision to imprison former Ukrainian premier Yulia Tymoshenko for pushing through a deal with Russian gas giant Gazprom in 2009 revives “Soviet” practices.
Russia's foreign minister also said yesterday that the trial was “highly politicized” and that the agreement with Russia was “valid”.
As the judge gave his verdict yesterday, a crowd outside the court building scuffled with police and cried of “shame, shame” greeted the verdict inside the court.
Jerzy Buzek, a former prime minister of Poland, said yesterday: “I deeply regret the Ukrainian court's decision to sentence former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko to seven years in prison,” Buzek said in statement, commenting on Tuesday's ruling, which claimed that Tymoshenko “exceeded her powers” by endorsing the gas agreement.
“The context and conditions of this verdict raise concerns about its politically motivated nature and about a selective application of the rule of law in Ukraine.
“I have serious doubts about the fairness, independence and transparency of this trial,” he added.
Buzek went on to stress that the trial marked a return to Soviet practices.
“The law applied against Tymoshenko dates back to Soviet times and envisages criminal prosecution for political decisions. This is a rare practice in democratic countries. Ukraine is a great nation that deserves better.”
Buzek underlined his hope that Ukraine's Criminal Code “will be amended soon”, adding “I expect the verdict to be reconsidered in case of an appeal process.”
The President concluded by stressing that “strengthening the rule of law” and fighting corruption are “essential not only for the conclusion of the Association Agreement by the end of the year [a treaty that strengthens trade and cultural ties between the EU and non-EU countries] and the deepening of EU-Ukraine relations, but also for the consolidation of democracy in Ukraine.”
Tuesday's ruling comes at an awkward time, with Poland preparing to host the Euro 2012 football championships with Ukraine, a project which was considered as a further step towards bringing Ukraine into the EU fold, following the 2004-2005 Orange Revolution, of which Tymoshenko was a driving force.
Prior to being sentenced yesterday, Tymoshenko accused her former Orange Revolution adversary, Viktor Yanukovych – who returned to the presidency last year – of writing the sentence himself.
“You know very well that the sentence is not being pronounced by Judge Kireyev but by President Yanukovych,” she declared.
“Whatever sentence is pronounced, my struggle will continue.”
Immediately after yesterday's verdict, Poland's own foreign ministry released a statement criticizing the trial as representing “the politicization of the Ukrainian judiciary.”
Poland's remarks were echoed by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov who said that the trial was "highly politicized" and that the Russian-Ukrainian gas deal was "a valid contract."
"We respect Ukraine's sovereignty and independence of the Ukrainian judicial system. But we underline our position that this very case is highly politicized and the essence of convictions shows that they are related to Russia," Lavrov told Russia's RIA Novosti.
“This is a valid contract between Gazprom and Naftogaz. The contract was signed by the previous government and has not been contested before the moment.” (nh/pg)
Source: Europarl, PAP, Reuters, RIA Novosti