The NGO “Ukrainian European Perspective” and other Ukrainian organizations in the Czech Republic say the decision of the Kyiv Court of Appeals upholding Yulia Tymoshenko’s conviction and sentence by the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv is illegitimate, according to the Official web site of Yulia Tymoshenko.
“This decision, which has received a clear negative assessment from Ukrainian society, religious leaders, the national intelligentsia, heads of other countries, international human rights organizations, and Nobel laureates, was a logical continuation of the series of persecutions of opposition leaders and members of the former government of Ukraine and discredits Ukraine on the international arena,” the organizations’ statement said.
Ukrainians in the Czech Republic believe the decision of the appellate court was a striking example of disregard of the law and democratic freedoms. “This ruling is unjust, illegal and absurd,” they said.
“Countries and Ukrainian organizations around the world realize that the current political regime, with the help of subordinate judges, is trying to destroy Batkivshchyna Party leader Yulia Tymoshenko and other political prisoners. It is disgraceful that the Kyiv Court of Appeals carried out this dirty command by the Administration of the President of Ukraine,” they added.
They called the appellate court’s decision a “cynical betrayal of the European integration aspirations of Ukrainians.” “We support the statement by representatives of the Ukrainian intelligentsia in not recognizing the unlawful decision by the Kyiv Court of Appeals, which is controlled by the president, and hope that it will be cancelled soon in the European Court of Human Rights,” the statement said.
The NGO “Ukrainian European Perspective” was founded in the Czech Republic this May by Bohdan Danylyshyn, PhD, professor, ex-minister of economy, academic of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine; Vasyl Danyliv, founder and chairman of the International Charity Fund “SVITLOMRIY”; and Irena Chapula, the director of RFE/RL`s Ukrainian Service.
