The European People’s Party (EPP) shares the opinion of the European Parliament and the EU governments that the EU-Ukraine Partnership and Association Agreement should not be signed and ratified as long as opposition leaders are in prison and cannot take part in elections, according to the Official web site of Yulia Tymoshenko.

In a resolution adopted by the EPP Presidency, the EPP called on the "Ukrainian Government to stand by its commitment to ensure the upcoming parliamentary elections comply with international standards with the full participation, including election campaigning, of the political figures in opposition and the opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko."

The EPP is concerned about the deterioration of the judicial system in Ukraine, with numerous shortcomings in areas of independence, impartiality, transparency and selective use. "The European People’s Party calls on the Ukrainian authorities to amend the criminal code in accordance with the international and European standards and to end the persecution of the political opposition," the document stressed.

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The European People’s Party is also deeply concerned by the health of Yulia Tymoshenko and Yuriy Lutsenko, and the damaging health conditions they face in prison and noted the recent visit of the international medical experts. "We call for the Ukrainian authorities not to question their findings and to respect their medical recommendations and, if required, to allow medical treatment outside the prison system."

"The EPP asks the Government of Ukraine to allow similar independent international medical examinations to take place on a regular basis in the future," they stressed.

The European People’s Party is demanding the immediate release of Yulia Tymoshenko, Yuriy Lutsenko and other political prisoners.