Russia Joins West in Condemnation of Tymoshenko's Sentence

World | October 11, 2011, Tuesday // 18:54

Russia has joined the chorus of Western states denouncing the seven-year jail sentence of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

Moscow said it sees an anti-Russian subtext in the case of Tymoshenko who was sentenced to seven years in prison for "signing gas contracts" with Russia, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday, as cited by RIA Novosti.

"As a matter of fact, Yulia Tymoshenko was prosecuted for the current, still valid, legally binding agreements between Gazprom and Naftogaz Ukraine," the ministry said. warning that the verdict must not affect the implementation of bilateral gas agreements.

The European Union earlier said that if Tymoshenko goes to jail Europe may suspend negotiations on the bilateral agreement on association and free-trade zone, which Ukraine hopes to sign by year-end.

The verdict against Ukraine's ex-premier Yulia Tymoshenko proved that the case was politically motivated, a French Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.

"The verdict in the Tymoshenko case was pronounced within the framework of a procedure that clearly ignored the defendant's rights. This confirms that the prosecution of Tymoshenko and her government members is politically motivated," French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said, emphasizing concerns about "the degradation of the rule of law in Ukraine."

The Ukrainian court's guilty verdict against former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko for abuse of power will cast a "negative spotlight" on the country and have consequences on its European relations, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said Tuesday.

"This unfortunately throws a very negative spotlight on the Ukraine's justice system," read a German statement released shortly after the verdict was handed down, as cited by DPA.

Westerwelle said Germany would keep a close eye on further actions against Tymoshenko and other members of her regime, which lost power after elections in 2010. Since then, several members of the former government have faced legal action.

In reaction to the verdict, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych himself acknowledged that the verdict would hamper European integration.

"Undoubtedly, this is a regrettable case, which hampers Ukraine's European integration at present," the Ukrainian leader said. "Naturally, the verdict complied with Ukraine's current Criminal Code, but this ruling is not final. The case is yet to be heard in the Court of Appeal."

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