You're reading: Canada calls upon Ukraine to release Tymoshenko, Lutsenko

Editor’s note: The following is a statement issued by Canada on Aug. 22. 

“The August
17, 2012, conviction of former minister of the interior Yuri Lutsenko is the
latest example of apparent political bias in the prosecution of Ukrainian
opposition figures; it raises serious concerns about the rule of law and
democracy in Ukraine. This trend calls into question the willingness of Ukraine
to hold elections that are truly free and fair. Our government has committed
unprecedented support to ensuring that elections this fall are free, fair and
fully representative of the democratic will of Ukrainian voters.

While
welcoming news of the conditional release of former acting minister of defence
Valeriy Ivashchenko, we call on the Ukrainian government to release Yuri
Lutsenko and Yulia Tymoshenko. “

Canada
stands with the people of Ukraine as they seek to build a nation founded on the
values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law.”