U.S., EU condemn ex-Ukrainian PM trial

The U.S. and the European Union (EU) have condemned the trial of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko for alleged abuse of power. U.S. State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said there were concerns that the trial appears to be a "politically motivated" prosecution of an opposition figure. U.S., EU condemn ex-Ukrainian PM trial "I'd like to take this opportunity to reiterate the U.S.' concern about the appearance of politically motivated prosecutions of opposition figures in Ukraine," Nuland said. "When the senior leadership of an opposition party is the focus of prosecutions out of proportion with other political figures, this does create the appearance of a political motive." Jose Manuel Pinton Teixeira, the EU's ambassador to Ukraine, who attended the trial June 24, criticized the crowded and stiflingly hot courtroom in Kiev, saying "the conditions of this trial are inhumane." Tymoshenko has been charged with abuse of office for signing a deal in 2009 to buy Russian natural gas at prices investigators said were too high, and without authorization to sign the deal. She denies the charges, saying they are orchestrated by President Viktor Yanukovych to block her participation in upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections. The charges carry a sentence of between seven and 10 years. A conviction would jeopardize her ability to take part in parliamentary elections next year and the next presidential election due in 2015. Tymoshenko, one of the leaders of Ukraine's Orange Revolution in 2004, narrowly lost to Yanukovych in presidential elections last year. The defiant ex-PM also described the trial judge, Rodion Kireyev, as the "presidential administration's puppet." according to RFE/RL. "No one has doubts that the Prosecutor's Office is privatized," she said as the trial was due to start. "The courts are privatized. There is no justice. That's why what is going on today is the personal responsibility and personal revenge of Yanukovych against his main political opponent." Tymoshenko is now the target of several investigations, including the charge of abusing her authority, which allegedly caused severe financial losses for Ukraine after the country's dispute with Moscow over Russian natural gas deliveries. She has signed a pledge not to leave Kiev but has not been detained so far in the investigation. However, several of her former top allies, including ex-Interior Minister Yury Lutsenko, have been imprisoned in other investigations, prompting the U.S. to raise concerns about "selective prosecution" in Ukraine. Yulia Tymoshenko (Beta/AP, file)

U.S., EU condemn ex-Ukrainian PM trial

"I'd like to take this opportunity to reiterate the U.S.' concern about the appearance of politically motivated prosecutions of opposition figures in Ukraine," Nuland said. "When the senior leadership of an opposition party is the focus of prosecutions out of proportion with other political figures, this does create the appearance of a political motive."

Jose Manuel Pinton Teixeira, the EU's ambassador to Ukraine, who attended the trial June 24, criticized the crowded and stiflingly hot courtroom in Kiev, saying "the conditions of this trial are inhumane."

Tymoshenko has been charged with abuse of office for signing a deal in 2009 to buy Russian natural gas at prices investigators said were too high, and without authorization to sign the deal.

She denies the charges, saying they are orchestrated by President Viktor Yanukovych to block her participation in upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections.

The charges carry a sentence of between seven and 10 years. A conviction would jeopardize her ability to take part in parliamentary elections next year and the next presidential election due in 2015.

Tymoshenko, one of the leaders of Ukraine's Orange Revolution in 2004, narrowly lost to Yanukovych in presidential elections last year.

The defiant ex-PM also described the trial judge, Rodion Kireyev, as the "presidential administration's puppet." according to RFE/RL.

"No one has doubts that the Prosecutor's Office is privatized," she said as the trial was due to start.

"The courts are privatized. There is no justice. That's why what is going on today is the personal responsibility and personal revenge of Yanukovych against his main political opponent."

Tymoshenko is now the target of several investigations, including the charge of abusing her authority, which allegedly caused severe financial losses for Ukraine after the country's dispute with Moscow over Russian natural gas deliveries.

She has signed a pledge not to leave Kiev but has not been detained so far in the investigation.

However, several of her former top allies, including ex-Interior Minister Yury Lutsenko, have been imprisoned in other investigations, prompting the U.S. to raise concerns about "selective prosecution" in Ukraine.