You're reading: Court to pass sentence on Tymoshenko, says president

Yalta, Sept. 16 (Interfax-Ukraine) - Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has said that he shares the concern of European experts and politicians about the observance of the principles of law in Ukraine, including in the consideration of charges brought against former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

"This issue is also painful for us, and we share this pain with you. We are pleased that this bothers you as much as us," he said at the 8th Yalta Annual Meeting, entitled "Ukraine and the World: Common Challenges, Common Future," on Friday.

Yanukovych said that Ukraine appreciated the advice given by European politicians. At the same time, he recalled that the gas case against Tymoshenko was a story of 2009, launched by Ukraine’s third president (2005-2010), Viktor Yuschenko.

"This is the story of the signing of contracts by business entities that had no right to do so. They exceeded their authority and violated international agreements. An assessment of this was made by President Yuschenko when he signed a decree on the National Security and Defense Council in 2009, and law enforcement agencies launched an investigation into why Ukraine’s national interests and international agreements were violated," Yanukovych said.

He recalled that after investigating the case, law enforcement agencies had passed it to court.

"The court, as [anywhere else] in Europe, will give its verdict," Yanukovych said.

He acknowledged that criminal procedure law in Ukraine requires revision and that the draft of the new Criminal Procedure Code, which, in particular, will balance the prosecution and the defense, was currently being examined by the Venice Commission.

"I hope that this year we will get this law along with the findings [of the Venice Commission], and then we will pass it," Yanukovych said.