Jailed Ukraine ex-leader allowed out for treatment
Source: Agencies |
November 23, 2011, Wednesday
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UKRAINE'S President Viktor Yanukovich yesterday allowed jailed opponent Yulia Tymoshenko to get medical treatment outside prison, relaxing a hard line stance after Lithuania's leader told him Europe had been "shocked" by her trial.
A Ukrainian human rights monitor was quoted on Monday as saying that Tymoshenko, 50, was in poor health and had been unable to move from her bed.
She was jailed for seven years last month after being found guilty of abuse of office while prime minister, in a trial she and EU leaders said was politically motivated.
Yanukovich, speaking at a joint news conference with visiting Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, said he had been in contact with the prosecutor general and relevant ministries about his rival's health.
"I was informed that the system (of medical treatment in jail) ... is not up to the required standards. So this treatment or medical services will have to be provided in medical institutions in Kiev, in the coming days, either today or tomorrow," he said.
Moments earlier at the same news conference, Grybauskaite spelled out a tough message which she said she had been authorised to pass on from the European Union.
"Europe was shocked by the decision taken by the court about the opposition leader. In Europe, the opinion prevails that Tymoshenko and her colleagues are the victims of a process of political neutralization," she said.
Her words underscored the crisis in the ex-Soviet republic's relations with the EU.
Before Tymoshenko's trial, Kiev had been hoping to tie up deals on association and free trade with the bloc.
But relations have soured over the trial, and the sides, who were due to sign the association agreement next month, may now just initial the deal.
The EU has called for Tymoshenko to be freed, backing her view that her trial is part of a vendetta by Yanukovich.
A Ukrainian human rights monitor was quoted on Monday as saying that Tymoshenko, 50, was in poor health and had been unable to move from her bed.
She was jailed for seven years last month after being found guilty of abuse of office while prime minister, in a trial she and EU leaders said was politically motivated.
Yanukovich, speaking at a joint news conference with visiting Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, said he had been in contact with the prosecutor general and relevant ministries about his rival's health.
"I was informed that the system (of medical treatment in jail) ... is not up to the required standards. So this treatment or medical services will have to be provided in medical institutions in Kiev, in the coming days, either today or tomorrow," he said.
Moments earlier at the same news conference, Grybauskaite spelled out a tough message which she said she had been authorised to pass on from the European Union.
"Europe was shocked by the decision taken by the court about the opposition leader. In Europe, the opinion prevails that Tymoshenko and her colleagues are the victims of a process of political neutralization," she said.
Her words underscored the crisis in the ex-Soviet republic's relations with the EU.
Before Tymoshenko's trial, Kiev had been hoping to tie up deals on association and free trade with the bloc.
But relations have soured over the trial, and the sides, who were due to sign the association agreement next month, may now just initial the deal.
The EU has called for Tymoshenko to be freed, backing her view that her trial is part of a vendetta by Yanukovich.
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