You're reading: Regions Party: Europe demonstrates double standards while lecturing on Tymoshenko case

Europe is criticizing Ukraine for the trial of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and at the same time turning a blind eye to similar cases in EU member states, deputy head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Verkhovna Rada Leonid Kozhara of the Regions Party has said.

"Many procedures in Tymoshenko’s case were launched under the previous government. Think of the decree by President Viktor Yuschenko issued after a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council in 2009, that ordered the Prosecutor General’s Office to investigate the signing of the gas contracts," the press service of the Regions Party quoted the MP as saying on Wednesday.

According to Kozhara, opinion prevails in Europe that the outcome of Tymoshenko’s case depends on current President Viktor Yanukovych.

"On the one hand, the president is the guarantor of constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens. But on the other hand, it’s wrong to force Yanukovych to intervene in a process that began long before his presidency. I think that settling this situation through unlawful means with the sole purpose of meeting the political demands of the European People’s Party will do more damage to Ukraine," the MP said.

He also expressed regret that Ukraine had failed to explain to Europeans what Tymoshenko’s situation was about.

"Representatives of the EPP (European People’s Party) from the very start were not ready to listen to us, they defended the BYT as their political allies. The situation around former Prime Minister of Romania Adrian Nastase, who was, in fact, charged with the same things as Tymoshenko, namely the abuse of office, is a glaring example," the MP said.

"Europe has focused on Ukraine and does not notice Romania, because they believe that tahe country that is not an EU member is easier prey for European political parties. European social democrats are currently trying to protect Nastase, but this is going on quietly," he added.

"Europe has taken to lecturing Ukraine, while we are trying to please Europe. The European Parliament considers that the EU is better and more democratic than Ukraine, and therefore does not respect our laws, while disregarding similar processes in member states. This is nothing but a double standard," the politician said.