You're reading: Financial Times: Tymoshenko appeals to European human rights court

Roman Olearchyk wrote: Yulia Tymoshenko, Ukranie’s former prime minister and opposition leader, has asked the European Court of Human Rights to rule on whether domestic criminal probes against her are politically motivated.

The development comes amid rising concerns in Europe and the U.S. that Kyiv, which hopes to sign free trade and associate membership agreements with the EU this year, is veering away from democracy under the presidency of Viktor Yanukovych.

Pointing to the Tymoshenko case, alleged media censorship and a flawed regional election held last autumn, US-based Freedom House published a report last week in Kyiv warning that Ukraine is sliding towards authoritarianism one year into Yanukovych’s presidency.

If Ukraine becomes “a more established, democratic, market-oriented member of the Euro-Atlantic community, it will have a positive effect on the wider region and become a success story for its neighbours to emulate.

“If it moves in a more authoritarian direction, Ukraine will not only set back its own future, but also damage hope for reform in Eurasia as a whole,” the report warns.

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