As part of his visit to Ukraine on April 18-19, French Ambassador-at-large for Human Rights François Zimeray plans to attend the preliminary hearing at the Kyivsky District Court of Kharkiv in the newest case against Yulia Tymoshenko involving United Energy Systems of Ukraine, according to the Official web site of Yulia Tymoshenko. “During this mission, François Zimeray will meet the Ombudsman responsible for fundamental rights and attend the first hearing of Ms. Tymoshenko’s trial in Kharkiv. The ambassador has asked to meet with Ms. Tymoshenko,” the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs reported.
France again urged the Ukrainian government to ensure full respect for human rights and its international obligations, notably those made to the Council of Europe, as well as the commitments that it renewed at the EU-Ukraine Summit in December 2011.
François Zimeray had requested permission to visit Yulia Tymoshenko in prison in January but was refused.
