OSLO - Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg have discussed the case of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and the protection of the rights of sexual minorities in Ukraine.
“During our meeting, I expressed concern about Ms. Tymoshenko and
other politicians, the holding of parliamentary elections and the rights
of homosexuals, so that they are not infringed upon,” Stoltenberg said
at a joint press conference with Azarov in Oslo on Friday.
Azarov, in turn, said that the Ukrainian and Norwegian sides had frank talks.
He said that Ukraine was ready to provide all of the necessary
documents confirming that Tymoshenko was convicted by a Ukrainian court
not for political reasons, “but for quite concrete violations of the
law,” which led to very serious consequences for Ukraine.
Azarov said that this issue could only be resolved at a legal level.
He also assured his Norwegian counterpart that the rights of sexual minorities in Ukraine would not be infringed upon.
“I can say that Ukraine will not pass laws that will infringe on the rights of sexual minorities,” Azarov said.
