You're reading: Yanukovych: Comment on Tymoshenko case could be considered pressure on judge

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has said that although Europe is concerned about the gas case against former Ukrainian Premier Yulia Tymoshenko, he would not like to comment on it to avoid accusations of pressure on the judge.

During a briefing in Warsaw on Friday, when asked whether the Tymoshenko case was tackled during his meetings in Poland and whether it could influence the signing of the Ukraine-EU association agreement, the Ukrainian president said, "Yes, this issue was raised periodically.

We can see that representatives from some of EU states are concerned about the issue, and we explain that the trial is not over and that the court is an independent institution. It is difficult to give a specific answer at the moment."

"As for me, I would not like to comment on the issue, as this could be considered as pressure on the judge and law enforcers. That is why I try to avoid giving specific answers to such questions, to which I really can’t give a specific answer," Yanukovych said.

"No one will give the final answer except for the court," he added.

"Justice is an independent branch of power, and the European Unions realizes this very well," Yanukovych said.