You're reading: Canada concerned over “politically motivated persecution” of Tymoshenko

Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird expressed concern over the “apparently politically motivated persecution” and arrest of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

“The appearance of political bias in judicial proceedings undermines the rule of law,” Baird said on August 7 in his statement in response to Tymoshenko’s arrest.
“Canada urges the Ukrainian government to strengthen judiciary independence and continues to support efforts to build a peaceful, democratic and prosperous society in Ukraine,” he added as quoted on Ministry’s web-site.
Tymoshenko was arrested on Aug. 5 in a Kyiv court where she is on trial for abusing her powers in signing a natural gas deal with Russia in 2009 that prosecutors claim was disadvantageous to Ukraine.