Whatever be said by the representatives of the regime, not a single qualified lawyer in this country will be able to confirm the elements essential to the offense in Ms. Tymoshenko’s actions when she was issuing directives to Oleh Dubyna to sign the agreement with Gazprom.
Not a single responsible political scientist will call her verdict “fight against corruption." We may have different thoughts about the quality of her administration but we must admit that neither Pshonka nor Khoroshkovskiy, nor Mogylyov, nor auditors-impostors from Trout Cacheris were able to find any proof of her personal involvement in any official malfeasance.
Let us be honest. Tymoshenko was convicted on Oct. 11 for abuse-of-office involving a 2009 gas deal with Russia for one reason only: she is the main uncontrolled competitor of Yanukovych.
Whether anybody likes it or not, she has by far the highest rating among the opposition politicians. Her imprisonment is not more than a hackneyed political reprisal realized and talked about by the whole world.
Whatever be said by the ardent supporters of the ex-premier, there was nothing unique in the process itself but for the high social and political status of the convict. Unfortunately, Ukraine does not have any system of justice.
Such illegal sentences are rendered against common citizens every day throughout the country. Another thing is unique here. Before, the heads of the state used to acknowledge drawbacks of the law-enforcement and judicial system but dissociated themselves from it to the most.
A public disclosure of unfair judgment could force the leaders of the country to intervene and review a decision. However, on Oct. 11, Yanukovych declared to the whole world that these are our methods and we will apply them. Not only to the common Ukrainians but also to those out of the common.
The dream of many Ukrainians about social equality has come true in a grotesque way. It does not matter now to which circle of society you belong. The regime does not segregate its opponents by any criteria. They do not even care about the privilege of parliament. Lawlessness is one for everyone.
Oleksandr Danylyuk is a lawyer and executive head of the All-Ukrainian Centre of Business Assistance.
