Ukraine: Yanukovich gets red card from EP

The European Parliament today adopted a resolution on the situation in the Ukraine, highlighting the problems with human rights and political repression. Commenting on the outcome, Green foreign affairs spokesperson Werner Schulz said:

"The opposition politicians who were responsible for bringing the European championships to the Ukraine will be languishing behind bars, while the current regime will be sitting in the stands and basking in the glow of the tournament."It is high time to show this regime the red card for its persistent abuse of human rights and political repression.

The EU needs to do far more to counter the emergence of a new dictatorship in its eastern neighbourhood. The Association Agreement cannot be signed so long as there are political prisoners. There will be no free elections while key opposition politicians sit in jail."

Greens/EFA co-president Rebecca Harms added:

"The EP has today strongly criticised Ukrainian president Yanukovich and the repressive policies of his government. The EU cannot support a regime that is leading its country away from freedom and democracy and towards isolation.

"The coming European football championships should be used by all those involved to send a message to the Yanukovich regime against political repression and the treatment of politically held prisoners like Yulia Tymoshenko. One of the purposes of hosting the tournament in the Ukraine was to bring the country closer to Europe and this should be taken seriously. UEFA chief Michel Platini should finally take a clear stance and speak out against political repression, rather than sniping at concerned sportspeople who do so."

EP-debate 22 may 12
Resolution