Ukraine: The solution of Yulia Tymoshenko’s case is possible before the Summit in Vilnius

Yulia Tymoshenko, Ukrainian ex-Prime Minister
(Image: UA Info)

According to the information of German newspaper Die FrankfurterAllgemeine Zeitung and to the statements of some Ukrainian journalists Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Andray Klyuev stated in his addressing to the EU representatives that the decision in the case of Yulia Tymoshenko could be taken on 19 November 2013, nearly week before the upcoming Summit of the Eastern European Partnership to be held in Vilnius.

Andrey Klyuev has reportedly assured Aleksander Kwaśniewski and Pat Cox, representatives of the observers’ mission of EU in Ukraine that the solution in the case of imprisoned ex-Prime Minister will be found soon.

It’s worth mentioning that one of the main obstacles on the path of Ukraine to the European integration and the possible signing of the Association Agreement at the end of this month is the situation with ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who is currently imprisoned. European leaders and representatives of the Western countries demand Ukraine to implement the reforms of judicial system which would eliminate the so called selective justice and political arrests.

uropean and Western politicians see the situation with Yulia Tymoshenko as an example of the selective justice and see the reasons of her imprisonment in the political field. The calls of EU representatives to release of Mrs. Tymoshenko changed to the calls to resolve her case with the option of her partial release or sending abroad for political treatment also possible. But the case of Ukrainian oppositional leader should be resolved before the beginning of the Summit, according to the conditions of the EU side.

The release or sending of Yulia Tymoshenko abroad depends actually on the political will of Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovich, so the European politicians. Ukrainian authorities including President though state the decision could be taken only in the parliament with the working out the law and voting for it.

There are currently several draft laws enabling the prisoners to receive medical treatment abroad, but the session of Ukrainian Parliament held on Thursday was closed by the Parliament speaker without voting and taking any decision. Pro-Yanukovich Party of Regions claims there should be a joint draft law uniting the terms of these several drafts, so there was a special technical team formed tasked with the working on the draft law. But the deadline set by EU is close to its end with no decision taken in the case of Mrs. Tymoshenko.

But on Friday it became known that already on Tuesday Ukrainian Parliament where Victor Yanukovich’s Party of Regions has the majority can take a decision and vote for the draft law regarding the right of the prisoners to receive medical treatment abroad, This law would enable to resolve the case of Yulia Tymoshenko before the beginning of the Summit and will give Ukraine more chances for the signing of the Association Agreement with EU.

Thus, despite the fact that the Thursday’s session of the Parliament was closed without any decision and despite the statement of Mr. Yanukovich made on 14 November where he states that Yulia Tymoshenko will not receive any exclusive rights, the information sources close to the Parliament and to the EU mission of Mr. Cox and Mr. Kwaśniewski claim the Parliament will vote for the relevant law on 19 November.

Mr. Yanukovich thinks that the parliamentarians should find the consensus and unite all the five currently existing draft laws in one, and in this case President will sign this law.

European Parliament in its turn has taken decision to prolong the mission of Aleksander Kwaśniewski and Pat Cox in Ukraine will the beginning of the Summit in Vilnius. EU observers in their turn stated in their report regarding the situation in Ukraine and its readiness for the Summit that Ukrainian authorities still have the chance to resolve some problems and meet the conditions set by EU in order to sign an Agreement.

The Summit of the Eastern Partnership where Ukraine and EU could possible sign the above mentioned Agreement is scheduled to be held on 28029 November 2013 in Vilnius.