EPP Group Member of the European Parliament Michael Gahler has strongly condemned today's verdict against Yulia Timoshenko:

"The verdict against Yulia Timoshenko is shocking. There is no justification for this ruling. Her indictment is politically motivated and the legal process was characterised by human rights abuses. Ms Timoshenko must be set free immediately.

"So far, all attempts to get Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych and his supporters to exercise their governmental responsibilities in a democratic fashion based on the rule of law have failed.

"This is an unpleasant challenge for all Europeans and all friends of the Ukraine. We must not sacrifice our European values for a deeper co-operation or even political association.

"The Ukrainian Government has stated further European integration and more democracy and rule of law as its aim. We must measure it against its real achievements: its current authoritarian direction is marked by limited media freedom, the obstruction and persecution of the political opposition, and human rights abuses.

"This course leads the country out of the community of European democracies."

(Translation from the original German)

For further information:

Michael GAHLER MEP, Tel: +32-2-2847977

Lasse Böhm, EPP Group Press and Communications Service, Tel: +32-484-656897

Notes to Editors:

The EPP Group is by far the largest political group in the European Parliament with 264 Members.