According to the Official website of Yulia Tymoshenko, the spokesperson of Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the Commission, issued the following statement today expressing the EU’s concern regarding the case against Yulia Tymoshenko:
"The EU has closely followed recent developments in the cases of Yulia Tymoshenko and other members of the former government of Ukraine. At the request of the High Representative, the EU Head of Delegation is in contact with the authorities in Kyiv regarding the court decision of 23 May to detain Mrs Tymoshenko, and to express our concern at suggestions of political motivation behind these cases.
The EU will continue to underline to the Ukrainian authorities the need for respect for the rule of law, incorporating fair, impartial and independent legal processes. We note the danger of provoking any perception that judicial measures are used selectively, and we stress the importance of ensuring the maximum transparency of investigations, prosecutions and trials. We consider these principles especially important in a country with which we intend to enter into a deeper contractual relationship built upon political association, and we recall that Ukraine currently holds the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe."
