You're reading: U.S. statement: Ukraine should avoid ‘selective’ and ‘politically motivated’ prosecutions

Editor’s Note: The following is a statement issued by the U.S. State Department through the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv on Dec. 30. It comes one day after Ukrainian prosecutors interrogated opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko for six grueling hours, and days after authorities arrested a handful of her allies. The recent arrests raises the total number of officials from Tymoshenko's 2009 government to be arrested this year to ten. The recent arrest of Yury Lutsenko, Kyiv's former Interior Minister, triggered a fresh round of fears that Tymoshenko’s bitter rival, President Viktor Yanukovych, was trying to wipe out political opposition and setup an authoritarian regime. Such fears escalated this week after Ukrainian police detained a handful of apolitical activists who took part in protests last month against tax reforms.

U.S. Government statement on investigation of Ukrainian opposition politicians:

“Although as a rule the U.S. Government does not comment on the specifics of individual cases, we have raised with the Ukrainian government our concern that while corruption should be pursued, prosecution should not be selective or politically motivated.

In that context, we also raised our concern that when, with few exceptions, the only senior officials being targeted are connected with the previous government, it gives the appearance of selective prosecution of political opponents.”