You're reading: Freedom House chief: Sanctions should be imposed against certain Ukrainian officials

Freedom House President David Kramer has said he believes that penalties should be imposed against certain high-ranking Ukrainian officials in the form of not issuing visas. 

“We’re holding talks at the highest level, and we personally met with President Viktor Yanukovych. The Ukrainian authorities are talking about commitments, but are not planning to comply with them. We have reached the stage where the only way to somehow change the situation is to use punishments, at least some punishments,” he said in an interview with the Ukrainian Week magazine.

Kramer said that Yanukovych was not interested in signing the association agreement.

“The association agreement with the EU has not worked. I can assume that President Yanukovych does not want it to be signed. Therefore I see no other way out but the introduction of more severe measures,” he said.

He also said that Freedom House and the OSCE would demand the use of personal sanctions against Ukrainian officials.

“We’re big supporters of the introduction of sanctions, particularly against individual officials. And our work in this area will continue. Freedom House and the OSCE will start demanding the use of personal sanctions, which, first and foremost, will concern the non-issuance of visas to the individual high-ranking Ukrainian officials who are responsible for violations,” Kramer said.