Members of the European Parliament see today’s decision by the High Specialized Court to postpone until August 16 the appeal of Yulia Tymoshenko’s conviction as an attempt by the government to prevent the former prime minister from participating in the parliamentary elections that will be held on October 28, according to Official web site of Yulia Tymoshenko.
"Today’s decision was just as I predicted. The regime and its dependent court want to prevent Yulia Tymoshenko from participating in the elections. They set the next date for August 16 - three days after the deadline for registration of candidates for the elections to parliament," UNIAN quoted MEP Michael Gahler (Group of the European People`s Party (EPP), Germany) as saying.The MEP believes another reason for the latest postponement of the appeal is the desire to not allow Yulia Tymoshenko and her lawyers to bring their case before the European Court of Human Rights. "In order to do this, first they have to go through all the courts in the country. So I see two goals: non-participation in the elections and absence of legal opportunity to file a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights," said the deputy.
"This is a time game by the government ahead of the October elections. But this game won’t lead to anything," believes EPP Vice President Jacek Saryusz-Wolski (Poland).
He noted that if the Ukrainian government still wants a European perspective for the country, they must release Yulia Tymoshenko and former Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko. "And also decriminalize what Yulia Tymoshenko is accused of and what nobody in Europe would even think to punish," stressed the MEP.
"Delayed justice is denied justice. My concern over the interference by the executive branch in the judicial process with the aim of buying time remains," said MEP Charles Tannock (European Conservatives and Reformists Group, UK).