Tymoshenko to boycott 'shameful' appeal process
Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
Publication Date | 22 December 2011 |
Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Tymoshenko to boycott 'shameful' appeal process, 22 December 2011, available at: http://www.refworld.org/docid/4f1431d928.html [accessed 27 December 2015] |
Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
December 22, 2011
Ukraine's jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko says she will boycott the "shameful" appeal process against her seven-year jail sentence.
The jailed opposition leader said in a statement that the process had become a "horror show" and accused President Viktor Yanukovych of "completely" destroying the justice system.
Her legal team confirmed that they would not be attending the hearings in the future.
The appeal process is apparently due to continue at the Kyiv appeals court in the absence of any representatives of the defense.
Tymoshenko was sentenced in October for abuse of power while prime minister, in a case that was launched just months after she lost a close election to Yanukovych.
The EU warned Yanukovych on December 19 that the signing of an agreement taking Kyiv a step closer to membership of the bloc depended on Tymoshenko's release.
compiled from agency reports
Link to original story on RFE/RL website