The United States and the European Union have condemned the upcoming trial of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko for alleged abuse of power.
U.S. State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said there are concerns that the trial -- due to begin on June 29 -- appears to be a "politically motivated" prosecution of an opposition figure.
"I'd like to take this opportunity to reiterate the United States' concern about the appearance of politically motivated prosecutions of opposition figures in Ukraine," Nuland said."When the senior leadership of an opposition party is the focus of prosecutions out of proportion with other political figures, this does create the appearance of a political motive."
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Radio Liberty: U.S., EU condemn Tymoshenko trial
Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko during a pre-trial hearing at the Pecherskiy District Court in Kiev, Saturday, June 25, 2011. Ukraine's former prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, went on trial Friday in a case that has raised concerns in the West over the government's commitment to democracy and the rule of law. Tymoshenko, now a top opposition leader, has been charged with abuse of office in signing a deal with Moscow to buy Russian natural gas at prices investigators said were too high. She denies the charges, and describes them as a political plot by her rival, President Viktor Yanukovych, to keep her out of upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections.
