You're reading: Tymoshenko appeals to European court

Ukraine’s former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko asked the European Court of Human Rights on June 21 to recognize domestic criminal probes against her as politically motivated.

Now in opposition and barred by prosecutors from travelling outside Kyiv, Tymoshenko has been charged with misallocating hundreds of millions of dollars while in office. She is to stand trial on one of three charges starting June 24.

Denying all the charges, Tymoshenko said that she hopes the European court will find that the charges against her amount to “political repression” that is masterminded by President Viktor Yanukovych, her rival.

“We filed an appeal [on Tuesday] laying out our case that political oppression is under way in Ukraine,” said Tymoshenko.

Yanukovych insists the investigations are no more than an attempt to combat corruption. He denies accusations that “selective justice” is at play and points, as proof, to criminal charges against other officials, including ex-President Leonid Kuchma.

Freedom House, the U.S.-based democracy watchdog, presented a report last week in Kyiv warning that Ukraine is sliding towards authoritarianism under Yanukovych

According to the London-based Financial Times newspaper, the development comes amid rising concerns in Europe and the U.S. that Kyiv, which hopes to sign free trade and associate membership agreements with the EU this year, is veering away from democracy one year under Yanukovych’s rule as president.

Citing the Tymoshenko case, alleged censorship of media and a flawed regional election held last fall, Freedom House, the U.S.-based democracy watchdog, presented a report last week in Kyiv warning that Ukraine is sliding towards authoritarianism under Yanukovych.