December 30, 2011
PRESS RELEASE
UKRAINIAN WORLD CONGRESS IS GRAVELY CONCERNED WITH
THE KYIV COURT OF APPEAL DECISION IN THE CASE OF YULIA TYMOSHENKO
The Ukrainian World Congress has expressed grave concern with the decision of the Kyiv Court of Appeal, the full text of which was read on December 29, 2011. In accordance with this decision, the verdict against former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko by the Kyiv Pechersky District Court remains unchanged.
The Ukrainian World Congress sees this decision as a continuation of related acts by Ukrainian authorities in this matter, including the unjustified arrest of Ukraine’s opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, court proceedings that did not comply with international standards of fairness, transparency and independence, and a sentence for the taking of political decisionsin officio based on archaic Soviet-style legislation.
The Ukrainian World Congress concurs with the statements made on the subject by leading world nations and high‑level international institutions that highlight the political motivation behind the Appeal Court decision, express concern over the state of democracy andrule of law in Ukraine, and confirm the idea that Ukraine is drifting away from European values.
“The Ukrainian World Congress calls upon Ukrainian authorities to adhere to fundamental European democratic values and to cease the political persecution of opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko,” – stated Ukrainian World Congress President Eugene Czolij.
