Baird, Bezan Troubled by Conviction in Ukraine; Call for Action

Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird issued the following statement on April 13, 2012:

“Canada is concerned that yesterday’s conviction [and five year prison sentence of Ukraine’s] former acting Defence Minister Valeriy Ivashchenko may call into further question judicial independence in Ukraine.

“A troubling trend is continuing in Ukraine. Like previous, apparently politically motivated prosecutions, this undermines the institutions upon which a peaceful, prosperous and democratic society depends.

“I reiterate my call for the Ukrainian government to strengthen judicial independence and capacity. Canada will continue to advocate freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law for all Ukrainians.”

James Bezan, Member of Parliament for Selkirk-Interlake, made the following statement:

“The conviction of Valeriy Ivashchenko, the third political opponent of President Yanukovych to be imprisoned without due process, is a sad reminder that democracy is under attack in Ukraine… I am deeply troubled by President Yanukovych’s continued disregard for human rights and democracy in Ukraine.”

“Canada must send a clear message to the Yanukovych Administration that the Ukrainian government’s direct assault on their political opposition is not acceptable and will not be tolerated… I am asking the Government of Canada to freeze foreign assets held by Ukraine’s leadership and cancel their travel visas as well.  Canada must send a robust delegation of election monitors for this fall’s Ukrainian parliamentary elections.  I also believe we need to implement economic sanctions, and suspend talks on the Canada-Ukraine Free Trade Agreement.  Diplomacy to date has not worked and we must pressure President Yanukovych to change course from what appears to be draconian Soviet-era policies.”

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1 - Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird

2 - James Bezan, MP