“It was with great concern that the Federal Government learned today of the arrest of Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko. There are serious doubts as to whether the investigative custody is proportionate.
The fact that numerous members of the former government are being investigated because of alleged abuse of office arouses suspicion that the arrest was politically motivated. Any confirmation of this impression would present a major obstacle to closer ties between Ukraine and the European Union.
The Ukrainian Government must guarantee a fair and due process of law and an independent and non-partisan judicial system.”