Opposition statement: Tymoshenko has not given up

October 11 marks one year since the verdict on the Russian gas supply contract case was brought in against Batkivschyna Party leader and former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

The Batkivschyna united opposition said in a statement that "Ukrainian democratic politicians and most of our citizens regarded this ordered verdict" as an attempt by the government to take revenge on a political opponent.

"Such assessments were also accepted by representatives of the international world community, in particular, the PACE, the OSCE and the EU, who said there had been the use of selective justice against the opposition and recognized the verdict against Tymoshenko as politically motivated," Batkivschyna said.

The statement also notes that "the regime launched an attack on freedom of speech, made political repression against opposition politicians, and is trying to destroy the democratic achievements of the previous years."

"Not only opposition members, but also ordinary citizens are suffering from such actions," the opposition said.

At the same time, the statement says that Tymoshenko "has not given up – she is and will be the leader of opposition forces in Ukraine."