The United States Ambassador to Kyiv John F. Tefft and Thomas O. Melia, deputy assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor, visited former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in her hospital in Kharkiv on May 14. They conveyed messages of concern for her treatment from Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. Tymoshenko told them about her current situation.
The United States government continues to be deeply concerned by the treatment of Tymoshenko and the conditions of her confinement. We continue to urge the Ukrainian authorities to ensure that Tymoshenko receives appropriate medical assistance. Moving her to the hospital for treatment by a specialist is a welcome first step in this direction. We also welcome the government of Ukraine’s decision to grant Secretary Clinton’s request that the U.S. ambassador be given access to her.
The U.S. Government continues to call for Tymoshenko’s release, the release of other members of her former government and the restoration of their full civil and political rights.
