You're reading: Canada concerned about postponement of consideration of Tymoshenko gas case appeal

Canada is concerned about the Higher Specialized Court of Ukraine for Civil and Criminal Cases again postponing the consideration of a complaint lodged by former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko against the gas case verdict, the parliamentary secretary to the Canadian Foreign Minister, MP Bob Dechert, has said.

“Today we were very upset about the court’s decision not to satisfy Tymoshenko’s request [to consider a cassation appeal in her absence] and not to conduct a hearing of the case,” said Dechert, who attended the court session on behalf of the Canadian government.

According to the press service of the Batkivschyna Party, the Canadian MP said that “the government and parliament of Canada are very concerned about the health of Yulia Tymoshenko, the attitude towards her and trials that currently look to be politically motivated.”

Dechert also said that representatives of the Canadian parliament’s committee on foreign affairs visited Ukraine in June 2012 and made a report on Ukraine, which was approved by all representatives of political parties in the Canadian parliament.

He noted that the report called on the Canadian government to ask the Ukrainian authorities to ensure the immediate release of Tymoshenko and other political prisoners and provide the necessary medical treatment to the former prime minister, former Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko and former Acting Defense Minister Valeriy Ivaschenko, and also ensure the holding of free and fair elections in Ukraine.

As reported, early on July 12, the Higher Specialized Court for Civil and Criminal Cases postponed until August 16 consideration of a cassation appeal lodged by Tymoshenko’s defense lawyers against the gas case verdict.

The hearing of the case has already been postponed for a third time. Earlier, the hearing was postponed due to the absence of the ex-premier and due to the need to familiarize the parties with the case materials.

The hearing was postponed for the second time due to the need to obtain the results of a medical examination of Tymoshenko.