Vilnius – The European Union, which has continued cooperation with Moscow in spite of the Mikhail Khodorkovsky case, should apply the same standards to Kyiv, despite the imprisonment of former Premier of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko, the speaker of the Lithuanian parliament has said.
"To connect the Tymoshenko case with negotiations between the EU and Ukraine on association and an agreement on a free trade zone would not be very clever. I wish to note another situation – the story with Khodorkovsky. Does this case, which is an example of selective justice, hinder the EU’s development of the energy dialogue and talks on a visa free regime with Russia?" said Chairman of the Lithuanian Seym Irena Degutiene.
She said Ukraine had made "a very positive geopolitical step," in deciding not to join Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.
"The EU should be logical and stick to the same standards: if the EU can hold talks with Russia in spite of the Khodorkovsky case, then, probably, the search for a constructive dialogue with Ukraine should be continued. If [the EU stops] communicating with [Ukraine], Ukraine might have to turn away and search for a dialogue with Russia," the speaker said.
As reported, Brussels earlier in the week postponed a visit by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. Later, the Regions Party said that the postponing of the visit does not imply the postponing of the date of the signing of an association agreement between Ukraine and the EU.
