Former PACE Monitoring Committee Rapporteur Hanne Severinsen believes there are no legal grounds to keep former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in custody, according to the Official web site of Yulia Tymoshenko.
“I can’t see any reason to keep Yulia Tymoshenko in prison. Ukraine is a European country, there is presumption of innocence and there should be a reason behind putting people in jail. It is very disappointing that this is being done without reason,” Hanne Severinson told journalists today during a break in the trial.
Hanne Severinson also stressed that she was surprised by the incident today in court when Gryphon police officers forcible removed MP Andriy Shkil from the courtroom. “I was very surprised. What I saw was of great concern,” she said.
The ex-PACE rapporteur recalled that the authorities must obey the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms that Ukraine ratified and respect principles that are fundamental in the Council of Europe.
