You're reading: Reaction swift to Tymoshenko’s arrest (updated)

Editor’s Note: The following statements came in response to the Aug. 5 arrest and jailing of ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on contempt-of-court charges in her trial. Tymoshenko is charged with exceeding her authority as prime minister in reaching a 2009 gas deal with Russia to end a three-week shutoff in January. Tymoshenko, in a view shared by many Ukrainians and many in the West, calls the charges politically motivated to win a conviction that makes her ineligible to run against Yanukovych in the 2015 presidential election or stand in the 2012 parliamentary eletion. Yanukovych denies he has anything to do with the charges.

David J. Kramer, executive director of U.S.-based Freedom House

"The decision will make it harder and harder for Ukraine and the European Union to go about business as usual. This is a very serious matter. It is making a mockery of the judicial system in Ukraine and is moving the country away from the values and principles of the United States and Europe. Ukraine had approached the line with the farce that is the trial. It has definitely crossed the line now."

Polish Foreign Ministry calls for Tymoshenko’s freedom

“We express concern over the decision of the Pechersk District Court in Kyiv to detain [ex-Prime Minister] Yulia Tymoshenko. We believe that this is a too hasty and drastic measure of restraint applied to the former prime minister for failing to follow court procedures, and thus hindering the investigation. We hope that Tymoshenko will be released from custody soon, and the court proceedings against the former prime minister will follow the European standards of behavior. Poland as the European Union president, will take up this conversation, both with the EU partners (High Representative Catherine Ashton), as well as representatives of the highest authorities of Ukraine (President Viktor Yanukovych, Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Gryshchenko. (Statement by Marcin Bosacki, Foreign Ministry spokesman)

UCCA calls for immediate release of Tymoshenko

The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, the umbrella organization of the over one million Americans of Ukrainian descent, is deeply concerned about the condition of Ukraine’s former prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko. As reported in the press, Kyiv’s Pechersky District court ordered her arrest and detention today. The UCCA calls upon Ukrainian authorities to immediately release her from prison. Furthermore, as the representative body of Ukrainian-Americans, the UCCA urges the United States government to publicly condemn her political imprisonment and utilize all diplomatic efforts to ensure the safety of her life and her release. The Yanukovych regime’s selective use of law enforcement, which has resulted in probes of political opposition leaders and the arrest of Yulia Tymoshenko and others, is one in a series of anti-democratic policies of political persecution. The world’s democracies cannot remain silent while basic human rights are being violated and the rule of law is nothing more than a command system.

Darya Chepak, President Viktor Yanukovych’s press secretary: "The president has said many times that his administration has nothing to do with [the court process against Tymoshenko], and cannot intervene in the activity of the judiciary according to the constitution."

Carl Bildt, foreign minister of Sweden:

"The trial against Yulia Tymoshenko in Ukraine an embarrassing spectacle. Does great damage to a great country."


Jerzy Buzek, president of the European Parliament:

"I am disturbed by the news about court’s decision to detain former PrimeMinister Tymoshenko. Thecontext and conditions raise concern about the politically motivated nature of this decision, and about the application of the rule of law in Ukraine. I urgeUkraine to uphold the principles and common values that define our relationship and that form the core of the Eastern partnership."


Hryhoriy Nemyria, former vice prime minister of Ukraine in Yulia Tymoshenko government:

“Yulia Tymoshenko was detained for her attempts to implement her rights in a politically-motivated case. If, beforel today, somebody doubted that this process is not politically motivated, the last doubts must have vanished today. In the nearest time, we expect very clear and concrete reaction from European countries and US. Yanukovych and everyone else behind the current escalation have made a big mistake. They have the time to fix it. If this is not done, the biggest political victim will be not Tymoshenko, but [President Viktor] Yanukovych."


Russian Foreign Ministry:

“Former Ukraine [Prime Minister] Tymoshenko’s trial should be impartial, with proper defense guaranteed and basic humanitarian standards observed."


Svoboda All-Ukrainian Union:

"We see what happened today in the following way: the authorities are simply bored with the formal demonstration of justice. They simply applied stricter and more repressive actions. This case reduces the [public’s] trust in the authorities, reduces the rating of support of society for the authorities, and increases the level of distrust in the authorities."

Mykola Martynenko, member of parliament, leader of the Our-Ukraine – People’s Self-Defense faction:

“The authorities have started following a Belarus-style scenario. It’s obvious that the criminal cases against opposition figures are too thin and are falling to pieces. The authorities have thrown aside the last formal procedures in the political trial of the opposition. As a result, Ukraine is facing the threat of complete suspension of any rapprochement with Europe and international isolation from the civilized world."


Oles Doniy, member of parliament, Our-Ukraine – People’s Self-Defense faction:

"If someone did not understand after the unjustified arrest of Yuriy Lutsenko that it was only the beginning of the dismantling of freedom and democracy and the launch of political reprisals, now they should look the truth in the eyes. And the truth is that this government will not settle before the entire political opposition is either behind the bars or in exile."


Former Verkhovna Rada speaker Arseniy Yatsenyuk:

"Democracy is over. There is not one regime that has won a war against its own people."


The President of the European People’s Party (EPP) Wilfried Martens
:

"With the arrest of former Ukrainian Premier Yulia Tymoshenko, Ukraine moved one step closer to "returning to Soviet-style authoritarianism. I’m not surprised that today the court ordered Yulia Tymoshenko to be placed under arrest. For months now, it has been blatantly obvious that the Yanukovych regime is running a politically motivated court case. The motive is clear: the removal of the main obstacle for a return to Soviet-style authoritarianism. Today Ukraine has moved one step closer. I call on [President] Viktor Yanukovych to put an immediate end to this sham."


Influential European politician, member of the European Parliament and the European People’s Party Vice President Mario David:

"The trial of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko will show the European Union whether the rule of law exists in Ukraine. Tymoshenko behavior in the courtroom could have been prompted by the situation surrounding her. The European Union will closely watch the proceedings, which should demonstrate how the judicial branch works in Ukraine. Tymoshenko’s trial should help the European Union understand whether there is an independent judicial system and rule of law in Ukraine. This is what the European Union expects from Ukraine, otherwise an agreement on association with the EU could be called into question."

European expert from the Carnegie Foundation in Brussels Olga Shumylo-Tapiola:

"Brussels and the European Union countries will have a negatively reaction to the arrest of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. A reaction will follow. Brussels and all other member-states are most likely to express a negative reaction, as they have many times called on the Ukrainian side to put an end to selective justice, and ensure honest and open justice."