Kamyanets-Podilsky, Oct. 13 (Interfax-Ukraine) -Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych agrees that the Tymoshenko case impedes the European integration of Ukraine and says he is upset with that.
Reporters asked the president in Kamyanets-Podilsky on Thursday whether the sentence on ex-Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko might lead to international isolation of Ukraine. "No one would have uttered a word or even opened one’s mouth if the same situation had occurred in any other state, even the most democratic," he said.
"Ukraine is under the microscope. Are we happy about that or not? No, we are not. Does this hamper the European integration of Ukraine? Yes, it does. Do I like that? No, I do not," Yanukovych said.
He said he felt negative about that and the future developments would depend on several factors. Modern laws will be adopted "and an appeals court will hear the case," he said.
If the amendments to the Criminal Code are approved before the hearings at the appeals court, the latter will take them into consideration, Yanukovych said.
"There is no doubt that the Tymoshenko case is high profile. However, the court will consider nothing but its merits and the laws in effect at the moment of the hearing," he said.
The amendments to the Criminal Code are being evaluated by the Council of Europe Venice Commission. Yanukovych said they expected an opinion soon. After that, the law will be approved in Ukraine, he said.
The president recalled that the Tymoshenko case started at a meeting of the Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council in February 2009, when the police were ordered to hold an investigation.
Tymoshenko blocked the investigation when she became the premier, he said.
"As long as Tymoshenko was the premier, she was blocking the investigation. When she left that position, the investigation was held quickly and brought to court. The court heard the case," he said.
No matter what a law may be, it must be fulfilled regardless of one’s position and political affiliation, Yanukovych concluded.
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