According to the Official web site of Yulia Tymoshenko, Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today released the following statement regarding the conviction and jailing of Yulia T. Tymoshenko:
"The conviction of former Prime Minister of Ukraine, Yulia T. Tymoshenko, is a step back for Ukrainian democracy. The conviction must be set aside. The former Prime Minister was sentenced to seven years in jail for negotiating a natural gas deal with Russia that was done in her official capacity as prime minister at that time. Leading international organizations such as Amnesty International have called her for immediate release and raised questions about the legality of the charges brought against her.
"I strongly object to this politically motivated decision that undermines the rule of law and international standards for a transparent judicial process. I call on Ukrainian President Viktor F. Yanukovich to immediately release former Prime Minister Tymoshenko and to reinstate her access to full citizenship rights and the right to run for public office."
