European Court of Human Rights support for Tymoshenko
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ELDR Party president Sir Graham Watson MEP has welcomed the news that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) has backed the need for immediate medical treatment to be given to imprisoned former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and that the Court will treat Tymoshenko’s appeal against here conviction as a priority case.
Tymoshenko is currently set to face seven years in prison as a result of charges of allegedly taking decisions against Ukraine’s national interest in relation to gas supply contracts with Russia.
Sir Graham commented: “Yulia Tymoshenko must now receive the medical attention that she requires. Medical care and a fair trial are fundamental human rights."
"If Ukraine is to become closer to the EU it has to shape up on civil liberties and the rule of law.”
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in a resolution adopted in January and which was supported by members of the Liberal Democrat group noted that there have been long standing concerns by the Assembly about deficiencies in Ukraine’s justice system, relating, inter alia, to the lack of independence of the judiciary, the excessive recourse to, and length of, detention on remand, the lack of equality of arms between the prosecution and defence, as well as the inadequate legal reasoning by the prosecution and courts in official documents and decisions.
Tymoshenko’s appeal hearing is set to take place on 15 May 2012 at the High Specialised Court of Ukraine for Civil and Criminal Cases.
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