You're reading: EU statement: Tymoshenko, Lutsenko trials ‘did not respect international standards’

Editor’s note: The following is a joint statement issued on Aug. 29 by the EU High Representative, Catherine Ashton, and Commissioner Stefan Füle on the judgement by Ukraine’s Higher Specialized Court for Civil and Criminal Cases in the case of Yulia Tymoshenko.

 “We
have noted the outcome of the review by Ukraine’s Higher Specialized Court for
Civil and Criminal Cases of the verdict against former Prime Minister Yulia
Tymoshenko which was presented this morning.

We
regret that the consequences
of the current situation will prevent two
important leaders of the opposition from standing in parliamentary elections
following trials which did not respect international standards as regards fair,
transparent and independent legal processes. We stress the importance for the
Ukrainian authorities to redress the effects of selective justice, in the cases
of Mrs Tymoshenko, Mr Lutsenko and others. This would also require
implementation of further judicial reform steps.

We
have also noted with concern a new sentencing of Mr Lutsenko on 17 August 2012.
We will continue to monitor closely developments related to Court cases against
Mrs Tymoshenko and Mr Lutsenko, as well as others. There is now a possibility
to bring the case of Mrs Tymoshenko before the European Court of Human Rights.

We
wish to pay tribute to the role played by former Presidents Aleksander
Kwaśniewski and Pat Cox, on behalf of the European Parliament, in observing
Court proceedings in Ukraine.”