President of the Democratic Union of Catalonia Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida believes Yulia Tymoshenko deserves a great honor for her work, according to the Official web site of Yulia Tymoshenko.
"Yulia Tymoshenko was the victim to a politically motivated trial that did not meet any of the guarantees required in a democratic state. She is suffering as Carrasco i Formiguera suffered. We admire how even behind bars, Mrs. Tymoshenko is defending democracy and fighting for the rule of law. We believe she truly deserves this great honor," Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida said during the ceremony where Yulia Tymoshenko was awarded the Carrasco I Formiguera Medal for her contribution to defending democracy and freedom and the struggle for the rule of law in Ukraine.
Eugenia Tymoshenko received the award on her mother’s behalf in Barcelona, Spain, on July 11.
Eugenia Tymoshenko expressed her gratitude for the award and for the support of her mother and Ukraine. "This is a great honor for my mother, and also an honor for the struggle for liberty in Ukraine. Yanukovych and his regime will fail, just as Fanco failed, to destroy Ukraine’s hopes and freedoms. My mother’s fight for freedom and democracy in her country has been a long and painful journey but it is one that produced historical changes for the better of our nation. The moment of freedom is approaching," said Yulia Tymoshenko’s daughter.
Eugenia Tymoshenko also called on European not to leave the Ukrainian people alone in their struggle against authoritarianism. "Your support and solidarity today has made certain that my mother and other political prisoners like her will be free soon, and that our country will return to democracy and European values," she said.
Audio of the awards ceremony can be heard here.
