The European Union said on Thursday it was concerned about "suggestions of political motivation" behind criminal cases brought against Ukrainian opposition leader, Yulia Tymoshenko.
Ukrainian prosecutors have told Tymoshenko, a former prime minister who narrowly lost to President Viktor Yanukovich in a February 2010 election, that she may be detained for hampering probes into charges of abuse of power.
She has denied any wrongdoing and dismissed the allegations as a political witch hunt.
"At the request of the High Representative (Ashton), the EU Head of Delegation is in contact with the authorities in Kyiv regarding the court decision of 23 May to detain Mrs Tymoshenko, and to express our concern at suggestions of political motivation behind these cases," the office of the EU’s foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton said in a statement.
Tymoshenko has been charged with abuse of office over carbon permit sales, purchases of emergency rescue cars and, most recently, signing the 2009 gas agreement with Russia.
"SELECTIVE" JUSTICE
Tymoshenko, 50, was a leader of the 2004 "Orange revolution" that denied Yanukovich victory in his first attempt to become president.
But she later fell out with her allies and the country sank into a long period of political infighting and uncertainty that undermined the economy.
After winning in 2010, Yanukovich has consolidated power in Ukraine and overseen constitutional change to reduce the role of parliament.
He has denied any political motivation behind Tymoshenko’s case.
A former interior minister under Tymoshenko, Yuri Lutsenko, is being held on charges of abuse of office involving embezzlement of state funds, while former environment minister Georgy Filipchuk also faces criminal charges.
Another Tymoshenko ally, former economy minister Bohdan Danylyshin, has been granted political asylum in the Czech republic.
Ukraine wants to sign an association agreement with the European Union this year and aspires to become a fully-fledged EU member in the future.
"The EU will continue to underline to the Ukrainian authorities the need for respect for the rule of law, incorporating fair, impartial and independent legal processes," Ashton’s office said. "We note the danger of provoking any perception that judicial measures are used selectively, and we stress the importance of ensuring the maximum transparency of investigations, prosecutions and trials."
