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Minister of State Hoyer deeply concerned over arrest of Ukrainian opposition leader Tymoshenko

05.08.2011 - Press release

Today (5 August) Minister of State Hoyer made the following statement regarding the arrest of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

“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.”

Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was remanded in custody on 5 August on the orders of the Ukrainian public prosecutor accused of several violations of court procedure. She has been on trial since 24 June for alleged abuse of office relating to the signing of a gas deal with Russia in 2009. If she is found guilty she faces ten years in prison.

The Ukrainian prosecutor-general has been conducting an investigation into numerous members of the former government and those connected with it.

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