UWC Denounces Conviction of Opposition Leader Yulia Tymoshenko

Toronto, October 11, 2011 - The Ukrainian World Congress denounces today’s decision by the Pechersky District Court in Kyiv convicting Ukraine’s opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko following a trial that did not comply with international standards of fairness, transparency and impartiality.

Ukrainian authorities relied on archaic Soviet-type legislation to prosecute former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko for her political decisions.

“With the exception of Ukraine’s current leadership, most observers, experts and leaders, including the Ukrainian World Congress, have criticized the prosecution of opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko as politically motivated. The Ukrainian World Congress will continue to monitor closely as Ms. Tymoshenko’s conviction moves into the appeals process, and ultimately up to the European Court of Human Rights,” stated Ukrainian World Congress President Eugene Czolij.

Ukrainian World Congress