EU: Release of Yulia Tymoshenko is still one of the key conditions for signing Association Agreement for Ukraine

Yulia Tymoshenko, prominent oppositional leader and ex-
Prime Minister of Ukraine, currnetly imprisoned
(Image: Praag Info)

German politician and member of the Green Party and MP of European Parliament Rebecca Harms, who is currently in Ukraine and participated in the New Year’s celebration taken place on Kyive Independence Square, Euromaidan, has stated, that the issue of Yulia Tymoshenko’s release is still on the table and is one of the key conditions for the signing of the Association Agreement between Ukraine and EU.

Mrs. Harms made this statement during her interview for Deutsche Welle.

Answering the question of the journalists regarding the issue of Ukrainian imprisoned ex-Prime Minister Rebecca Harms stressed that this issue isn’t forgotten and pushed aside in European Parliament; it still remains one of the most important and decisive.

“This demand of release of Yulia Tymoshenko along with other political prisoners in Ukraine as well remains a constant one”, said Mrs. Harms. – “European Parliament has voted with an overwhelming majority of the votes for this decision, which was one of the conditions of the further signing of the Association Agreement”. This condition is important as Ukraine indicated its willingness and readiness to build a real democratic society where the principles of law and judiciary are the highest and where there is no place for the selective justice and political oppressions, according to the EU politician.

Rebecca Harms, member of European Parliament
(Image: Europe decides)

In addition to that Mrs. Harms said that Yulia Tymoshenko was officially arrested and imprisoned for her talks with Russia and signing of the gas deals which were not fair and transparent and brought losses to Ukraine. Meanwhile, the current deals signed between Russia and Ukraine during Victor Yanukovich’s recent visits to Russia are even more unclear, nobody knows the exact information about the terms of them, the text of the documents aren’t published, reminded Mrs. Harms. So it is simply unacceptable for Ukrainian authorities to talks about lack of transparency and ongoing the detention of Yulia Tymoshenko and other political prisoners as well, thinks European parliamentarian.

Meanwhile tens of thousands of Ukrainians continue massive anti-government protests in Kyiv and nationwide with massive rallies held on the weekends. More than 2 million of people have gathered in Kyiv Independence Square during the celebration of New Year.

Ukrainian National Alliance “Maidan” and opposition declared that they will continue their peaceful protests actions until their demands will be met and the main goals will be achieved.