Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych caused significant damage to the Eastern Partnership policy during his tenure, and with the assistance and the supervision of Russian secret services, the then leadership of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) kept tabs on all the embassies and ambassadors of western countries, current SBU Chief Valentyn Nalyvaichenko said on Thursday.
Nalyvaichenko’s advisor Markiyan Lubkivsky wrote on his Facebook page that Nalyvaichenko made this statement during the fourth international scientific and practical conference dubbed “Restructuring of Global Space: Historical Imperatives and Challenges.”
“The Yanukovych regime inflicted a serious blow and losses on the Eastern Partnership policy through the intentional delay of Ukraine’s integration into the European political, economic and humanitarian space, disregard for human rights, violation of obligations under international treaties and conventions,” Lubkivsky quoted Nalyvaichenko as saying.
In addition, Lubkivsky said another blow to the Eastern Partnership was delivered by Russia, “as the aggressor country, which crudely violated all norms of international law, supplied the Yanukovych regime with lethal weapons and non-lethal weapons to fight against his own people,” adding that the Russian secret services were involved in a violent crackdown on nationwide protests.
He also said that when the SBU was chaired by Oleksandr Yakymenko “it conducted surveillance of ambassadors and embassies of western countries accredited in Kyiv under the direct supervision of Russian secret services.”
Speaking at the conference, Nalyvaichenko said that Russian military aggression against Ukraine illustrates the need for a new agenda of the Eastern Partnership policy.
“Therefore, before the Eastern Partnership summit in Riga, which will be held on May 21-22, this year, it is important that our partners are well aware of the level of threat posed by the Russian side and faced today not only by Ukraine, but also by the entire international community,” Lubkivsky said.
