You're reading: Husband: Tymoshenko soon to be released and become president of Ukraine

Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's husband, Oleksandr Tymoshenko, who was granted political asylum in the Czech Republic, has said that the release of the ex-premier is his top priority.

“While in the Czech Republic, I’m doing active work, and I can communicate with and draw the attention of many Western politicians and civil society organizations to the problems of democracy and human rights in Ukraine. Yulia Tymoshenko is only the tip of the iceberg of the policy of humiliation, abuse and cruelty that has been successfully introduced by the regime of [President Viktor] Yanukovych,” he said in an interview with Kontrakty.ua, Yulia Tymoshenko’s personal Web site reported on Friday.

However, Tymoshenko expressed hope that his wife would be released soon.

“We don’t expect any pardon. I want everyone to understand that Yulia Tymoshenko is innocent. She should be released and fully rehabilitated. That’s all. And the faster they do it, the better it will be better for today’s ‘leaders.’ I hope that Yulia Tymoshenko will be released in the near future. And she will become president of the country,” Tymoshenko said.

“The most important thing for the country is the integrity of the opposition, not internal leadership or rivalry, but the struggle for the idea of a European Ukraine, because there’s one leader – Yulia Tymoshenko. But I’m dreaming that any joint actions against the current bandit government will be the most successful,” he said.