You're reading: Tymoshenko invited to speak before Canadian parliament

Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada Bob Rae has invited ex-Ukrainian Prime Minister and Batkivschyna Party leader Yulia Tymoshenko, who is currently held in custody, to attend the 41st session of the Canadian Parliament in Ottawa, according to Tymoshenko's personal Web site.

As the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, I have the honor to invite Mrs. Yulia Tymoshenko, former Ukrainian prime minister and leader of the democratic opposition, to Ottawa for meetings with Canadian parliamentarians and for the 41st session of the parliament, the leader of the Liberal Party of Canada said in the letter of invitation.

Rae expressed concern over the recent events in Ukraine, particularly, what he called the politically motivated arrests of many opposition activists, including Mrs. Tymoshenko.

Canada has been watching the development and actively supported many of them.

Unfortunately, we watched the recent events in Ukraine with great regret, in particular, the arrest of Mrs. Tymoshenko, the letter said.

I hope my invitation and the visit by Mrs. Tymoshenko to Ottawa will facilitate democratic development in Ukraine, Rae said.

The Liberal Party of Canada is one the biggest and oldest in the country, Tymoshenko’s spokesperson said.

The Prosecutor General’s Office accuses Tymoshenko of exceeding her authority in signing gas contracts with Russia in 2009, which caused over Hr 1.5 billion in losses to the state.

The court started hearing the gas case on June 24.

On Aug. 5, Tymoshenko was arrested in the courtroom for "obstructing the establishment of the truth," prosecutors said.