PM Harper Rebukes Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovych

The Huntington Post, October 14, 2011

In a highly unusual move, Prime Minister Stephen Harper publicly rebuked the President of Ukraine over judicial proceedings that led to the imprisonment of his former political opponent Yulia Tymoshenko.

Harper told President Viktor Yanukovych the two countries enjoy a special partnership because of generations of migrations but that the relationship was now strained.

“I am therefore deeply concerned by recent developments in your country, in particular by the apparent political motivation behind the trial of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko,” Harper wrote in a letter that was released to the press.

“The conduct of the Tymoshenko Trial, as evaluated by numerous international experts, does not reflect accepted norms of due process of fairness. Canada believes that a fair and independent judiciary is an essential branch of democratic governance,” Harper continued.

“I cannot overstate the potential negative impact of the current judicial proceedings against Yulia Tymoshenko both on Ukraine’s future relations with Canada and others, and on Ukraine’s long term democratic development.

Our positive bilateral relations since Ukraine’s independence have been built on a shared respect for democracy, human rights and the rule of law,” Harper wrote.

Harper addressed the case during an appearance at the Ukrainian Canadian Congress October 14.