Ukrainian government must abide by its word: Release of Yulia Timoshenko now!

In response to today's ECHR ruling in the Yulia Timoshenko case, Werner Schulz, Green Member of the European Parliament in the Party on the Foreign Affairs Committee makes the following statement: I am pleased that the European Court of Human Rights has clearly and unequivocally recognized and condemned the political motivation of the criminal proceedings against Yulia Timoshenko by the current Ukrainian government. This is a great success for Yulia Timoshenko, the opposition and for the citizens of the Ukraine.

The Ukrainian government must now abide by its pledge to accept the ruling regardless of the outcome. The only acceptable consequence of this is the immediate release of the former prime minister. President Viktor Yanukovych should now show his greatness, call off his politically motivated vendetta against his rival and thereby clear the way for closer ties between his country and Europe and for the signing of the Association Agreement.