You're reading: Ukrainian World Congress urges international community to demand Tymoshenko’s release

The Ukrainian World Congress has called on the international community to demand the release from custody of Ukraine's former prime minister and opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.

"The international community has already warned Ukrainian government authorities against the use of the state apparatus for political gain, an example of which is the attempt to remove Ukraine’s leading opposition politician from the run-up to the 2012 parliamentary elections. The UWC now calls upon you to increase pressure on Ukrainian government authorities and demand the immediate release of Ms. Yulia Tymoshenko," reads the address signed by Ukrainian World Congress President Eugene Czolij and posted on the organization’s Web site.

The Ukrainian World Congress said that the persistent disregard by the Ukrainian government authorities of calls by the international community to cease the prosecution of political opponents cannot be tolerated.

"An unequivocal message needs to be conveyed that Ukrainian government authorities cannot chair the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe while openly disrespecting fundamental European values; otherwise, the international community’s criticism will continue to be ignored, being viewed merely as rhetoric," the statement reads.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress has also expressed concern over Tymoshenko’s arrest.

"The government of Ukraine is pursuing what appears to be politically-motivated, selective justice in a deliberate and systematic program to remove political opposition. This is another step away from democracy. Today’s arrest of Tymoshenko is another in an ever-growing list of violations of human rights, democracy and the rule of law which have been regressing under [President Viktor] Yanukovych’s government," Ukrainian Canadian Congress President Paul Grod said in a statement published on the congress’ Web site.

According to him, despite numerous reassurances by the government of Ukraine, there is evidence that "Ukraine is reverting to an authoritarian model of governance as the government moves to systematically reverse the democratic gains made by the Orange Revolution."

"The international community cannot sit on its hands as democratic freedoms are being eroded in Ukraine… We have formally asked the Government of Canada to use all diplomatic tools at its disposal to communicate Canada’s displeasure with the anti-democratic developments in Ukraine and call for [Tymoshenko’s] immediate release," Grod said.

The UCC said they had repeatedly requested that Canada use all of its influence within the Euro-Atlantic community and Euro-Atlantic agencies to maintain pressure on the Yanukovych government to respect democracy and human rights.

"Furthermore, we have called upon the Government of Canada to ensure that any Canada-Ukraine free trade agreement be contingent upon Ukrainian government commitments to respecting democracy and human rights," the UCC president said.