Ukrainian opposition to appeal to Strasbourg court

The Batkivschyna United Opposition will go to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to appeal against decisions by Ukrainian courts, which upheld the non-registration of ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko and ex-interior minister Yuriy Lutsenko as parliamentary candidates.

"We have exhausted all internal state procedures but there are still international institutions. Obviously, the political party will be making a relevant decision and seek support at the European Court of Human Rights," Batkivschyna permanent representative to the Central Election Commission Ruslan Kniazevych told reporters on Wednesday, commenting on the decision by the Higher Administrative Court of Ukraine.

The Higher Administrative Court's decision "did not come as a surprise," Kniazevych said.

"Obviously, some decisions had already been prepared so one should expect nothing new," he said.

Surprisingly, the Higher Administrative Court used even political argument to substantiate its decision, he said.

"Frankly speaking, for the first time overtly political aspects are stated in a legal decision," he said, commenting on the section of the Higher Administrative Court of Ukraine decision, stating that the law on parliamentary elections, part of which is being challenged by the opposition, was passed, among others, by opposition deputies.

"The court said nothing that is new for me. I am just very surprised that the court is more inclined towards political-legal decisions rather than purely legal ones," Kniazevych said.