Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi is following the situation of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko with growing concern. The news, reported by the Office of the Ombudsman in Kiev, that Mrs Tymoshenko was subjected to physical violence during her transfer from prison to hospital cannot fail to arouse keen apprehension.
The Italian Foreign Ministry is in contact with our principal European partners and with High Representative Ashton to ensure that the authorities in Kiev shed light on the case. The Ministry has called for the Ukrainian authorities to take the appropriate steps to ensure that Mrs Tymoshenko’s rights to medical treatment and adequate legal defence are respected.
The judicial initiatives against members of the previous Ukrainian majority cannot fail to arouse concerns regarding the rule of law in Ukraine. The European Union’s High Representative, Catherine Ashton, has officially and repeatedly expressed concern on behalf of the EU over judicial proceedings that have failed to comply with international standards with respect to a transparent and independent trial. Italy fully supports the position of and action taken by Europe, to which we continue to lend our on-going and convinced support, including in the framework of the partnership policies.
