Ukraine: Euro countries express anger over ex PM treatment in Jail

World

Ukraine: Euro countries express anger over ex PM treatment in Jail

Close

Euro countries have condemned the treatment of ex Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in jail.

01 May,2012 05:05 pm

European threats to boycott the upcoming Euro 2012 football championship over the treatment of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko provoked mixed reactions among Kiev residents on Monday.Tymoshenko, who is serving a seven-year prison sentence for abuse in office, has alleged neglect and abuse at the hands of her prison handlers. The trial and imprisonment of President Yanukovichs arch rival has strained relations with the 27-member European Union, which Ukraine hopes to join.A German government spokesman said any visit by Chancellor Angela Merkel during the tournament would be linked to Tymoshenkos fate. Several other leaders also said they would scrap plans to visit Ukraine over the case.Earlier, Czech President Vaclav Klaus joined German President Joachim Gauck in cancelling participation at a summit of central European presidents in the Ukrainian Black Sea resort of Yalta on May 11-12 over Tymoshenkos case. And in Brussels, a spokeswoman for European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said he would not visit Ukraine because of Tymoshenkos treatment.Ukraine described threats by European powers to shun the Euro soccer championship it will host in June as a return to Cold War tactics on Monday (April 30), after several leaders called off their visits to the championship that starts in June.But residents polled on the streets of Kiev were split in their reactions to the proposed boycotts.Ukraine is co-hosting the Euro-2012 soccer tournament - one of the continents main sports events - together with Poland, and hopes to improve its image and boost tourism by attracting an estimated 1 million sports fans. The championship is set to become the biggest sports event to be held during Yanukovichs current term in office and is a matter of both prestige and business for the ex-Soviet nation.But it now faces more potential boycotts by European politicians. EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding urged Michel Platini, president of European footballs governing body UEFA, to raise the issue of Tymoshenko with Ukraine.Tymoshenko helped lead the 2004 Orange Revolution which doomed Yanukovichs first bid for the presidency, and has since served twice as prime minister but lost the 2010 presidential vote to Yanukovich in a close run-off.The European Union has warned Kiev its members will not ratify milestone deals on political association and free trade with it as long as Tymoshenko remains in prison.Yanukovich, who Tymoshenko says has personally orchestrated her conviction, has refused to intervene and prosecutors have heaped more charges on Tymoshenko leading to a new tax evasion trial which opened this month.