UWC Urges the International Community to Stand up for Democratic Values in Dealing with Ukraine's Authorities

In a letter dated October 14, 2011, the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) urged the international community to stand up for democratic values in dealing with Ukraine’s authorities. The letter was sent to seventeen high-ranking officials of the international community in response to the conviction and sentencing on October 11, 2011 of Ukraine’s opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko by the Pechersky District Court in Kyiv.

The letter highlighted the concerns expressed by most observers, international leaders and human rights advocates that the trial was politically motivated and did not conform to international standards of fairness, transparency and impartiality. Ukrainian authorities relied on archaic Soviet-style legislation to prosecute former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko for her political decisions.

The UWC appealed to the international community to:

(i)              intensify its efforts to pressure the Ukrainian authorities to release Ms. Tymoshenko from prison pending the appeal process;

(ii)            send a clear message that Ukrainian authorities cannot openly flout fundamental European democratic values since Ukraine is representing Europe as Chair of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe until November 2011 and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe in 2013, and co-host of Euro 2012; and

(iii)          send observers to Kyiv to monitor the appeal process in the case of Ms. Tymoshenko.

The full text of the letter is available on the UWC website: http://www.ukrainianworldcongress.org/news.php/news/615/lang/en

Copies of this letterweresent to Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and to the Human RightsCommissioner for the Ukrainian Parliament, Nina Karpachova.

Ukrainian World Congress

145 Evans Ave., #207
Toronto, ON 
M8Z5X8 Canada

Tel. (416) 323-3020
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website: www.ukrainianworldcongress.org