EU Warns Ukraine

Jan. 12, 2011

KIEV — EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele warned Ukraine on Tuesday not to use criminal law for political ends, a clear reference to the prosecution of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

“I would like to recall the need to ensure that criminal law is not used for political ends and the principles of a fair, impartial independent legal process are fully respected,” Fuele said after talks with President Viktor Yanukovych.

In response, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Hryshchenko said the easiest way to avoid a problem with law enforcement bodies was to make sure “you do not break the law when you are in government, nor when you are out of it.”

Tymoshenko lost a bitter election campaign against Yanukovych early last year and has been charged with abuse of office during her time as prime minister from 2007 to 2010.

She is due to appear before the state prosecutor again on Thursday to hear latest developments in the case against her.

(Reuters)

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