Ukraine, Timoshenko and a suspicious prosecution


I had decided not to write about this issue before because it has a strong political meaning, and in these cases, it's really difficult to say something without give any point of view at same time. But after yesterday, I changed my mind.


Yesterday I was watching the news on Euronews (how I like this channel) and meanwhile, there was one interview with Mikola Azarov. He became Ukraine’s prime minister in March 2010 and, since then has come under sharp focus in Europe and the concerns over the treatment of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko who is currently serving a seven year prison sentence on charges of abuse of office.


She is accused for corruption and, by him, if now Ukraine has to pay a bigger price for gas purshases from Russia, it's her fault. Better said: through a suspicious contract, she gave a very unfavourable conditions for gas supplies with Russia. Now Ukraine supposedly has to pay almost double the price for gas purchases comparing to current average European prices. 


The problem is that EU leaders think all the process is being based on wrong legal motivation, and it's connectec with political purposes, just to eliminate a potential opposition, leaded before by Timoshenko. Moreover, Timoshenko had health problems, and she was not having an adequate treatment until last week, when pressure from German and the international community (like Euro 2012 boycott) made Ukraine's government to act. President Viktor Yanukovich has faced growing criticism over the conviction of Tymoshenko and the authorities' refusal to let her travel abroad for treatment.


After all of these events, Ukraine is being viewed as a dictatorship, but this condition is refused by Ukraine's government.  There is a clear lack of trust in the Ukrainian justice system abroad as well as in Ukraine, including because there is a lack of informations about the procedures for this prosecution and investigation. But for justifying this, the Prime Minister said that now they are undertaking many legal reforms, mainly in the judicial system and a new criminal  procedure code, just to fight strongly against corruption.


Again, considering the historical of Ukraine with the old Soviet Union.... I cannot be so sure that everything is so transparent as the Prime Minister wants to show up...


To watch the interview, click here.