http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/ Politics http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122966/ Politics Wed, 22 Feb 2012 20:10:42 +0200
The family and lawyers of Tymoshenko, a charismatic opposition leader who narrowly lost the 2010 presidential election to President Viktor Yanukovich, say she is suffering from lower back pains.

Prison authorities say they are closely monitoring Tymoshenko's health and following the recommendations of German doctors who examined her this month.

Roithova, former healtchare minister of the Czech Republic and a member of the European People's Party which has long supported Tymoshenko, visited Kiev this week and saw part of Tymoshenko's medical records dating back to November 2011.

"(The record) clearly shows that even then the medical findings concerning the lumbar spine area required proper treatment with anaesthetics, followed by appropriate rest and a further decision on possible surgical solution following more examinations," Roithova said in a statement.

"That would have been the standard procedure. Instead, however, she was deprived of her supportive crutches, she spent endless hours interrogated and was even temporarily deprived of the painkillers."

Roithova said she would "be taking much more seriously the concerns of Tymoshenko's family, who fear that Yulia Tymoshenko could be exposed to toxic substances so she would succumb to the pressure upon her".

"Yulia Tymoshenko's health raises concerns that she has been maltreated while being in prison," she said.

Tymoshenko, who denies all charges against her, gained international prominence as a leader of the Orange Revolution street protests which thwarted Yanukovich's first bid for the presidency in 2005.

Tymoshenko was convicted of exceeding her powers as prime minister by forcing through a gas deal with Russia in 2009 which the Yanukovich leadership says saddled Ukraine with an exorbitant price for the fuel.]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122951/ Politics Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:56:54 +0200
"It was the macroeconomic situation that he managed to stabilize, although risks have appeared, and they are quite serious. In terms of the declared reforms, the course was right. Another thing is that problems arouse with the pace of reforms and their effectiveness," Fesenko said.

According to the analyst, social tension is "the main challenge to Yanukovych and Azarov-led government."

As for foreign policy, Fesenko said that the situation was also ambiguous: "On the one hand, the course for the formation of a new balance of relations between West and Russia and the search for the best golden mean was the right course, but here I would like to name the main problem, the main mistake of Yanukovych in his first two years as president – the trial and conviction of Yulia Tymoshenko. In my opinion, they, first of all, created very serious problems in relations with West and largely ruined all of the achievements last year concerning European integration, and the question of signing the [association] agreement depends on the fate of Tymoshenko, on our domestic political problems - and this is the main problem," Fesenko said.

Director of Ukraine's Institute of Global Strategies Vadym Karasiov, in turn said he shared the view of his colleague in the context of conflicting estimates of Yanukovych's presidency. He said that the price of the question of concentration or monopolization of power was too high, and in particular, it concerns the fact that macroeconomic stability was achieved due to the "destruction of the business."

"The public does not support this course, and we've seen a drop in ratings in the last two years, despite consolidation," Karasiov said.

In his opinion, now there is a "silent war between the public and the government."

"The government and society are standing back to back," he said, adding that "relations with Europe have stalled."

"Yanukovych is not controlling the opposition, and he is not controlling Tymoshenko even in prison... because the West is exerting pressure, and doctors are coming, and it is not clear yet what will the outcome of the story with Tymoshenko's illness. This is a very alarming factor for Yanukovych," Karasiov said.]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122928/ Politics Wed, 22 Feb 2012 13:21:25 +0200
MP Yuriy Odarchenko told reporters that the protesters brought books and personal care items, which they intended to give to the former prime minister.]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122925/ Politics Wed, 22 Feb 2012 12:39:28 +0200
In addition, the ministry said: "The findings of the international commission, as well as any information about the patient's diagnosis, are private health information, which none of the experts who were members of the commission have disclosed, either in official news reports on the medical examination of Yulia Tymoshenko, or in comments to the media. Ukrainian doctors have abided by all the arrangements for confidentiality."

It was reported earlier that a panel of German, Canadian and Ukrainian medical specialists examined Tymoshenko at the penitentiary on Feb. 14-15.

After that, Yevhen Pedachenko, the head of a division at the Romodanov Neurosurgery Institute and a member of this panel, said in Kharkiv that Tymoshenko's condition did not require surgical intervention.

Tymoshenko's defense lawyer, Serhiy Vlasenko, in turn, said that independent foreign doctors had noted that the former prime minister was suffering from a severe illness.

The Health Ministry recalled that the recommendations on Tymoshenko's treatment were handed to the doctors of the State Penitentiary Service.]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122867/ Politics Tue, 21 Feb 2012 15:20:20 +0200
The interview can also be watched below, courtesy of a YouTube posting.

In the interview, Eugenia Tymoshenko repeated concerns that her mother is not recieving proper medical treatment in prison. She denied wrongdoing by her mother repeating claims that the charges and 7-year jail sentence handed down are a politically-motivated attempt by President Viktor Yanukovych to sideline his main rival.

Click here to read a Russian language report about this on www.kyivpost.ua.

]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122845/ Politics Tue, 21 Feb 2012 11:19:17 +0200
Read more here.]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122841/ Politics Tue, 21 Feb 2012 10:39:01 +0200
At the same time, the leadership of Kachanivska colony said that they were sympathetic to the fact that Tymoshenko complained about her health condition, and underwent a medical examination on Feb. 14-16, and was now studying the case (until March 28), the press service said.]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122791/ Politics Mon, 20 Feb 2012 19:54:19 +0200
She has complained of severe back pain and accused prison doctors of mistreating her and denying her medication. Health officials, however, have insisted her condition is satisfactory.

A group of Canadian and German doctors were allowed to examine Tymoshenko at her request last week, but they have made no public statements.

Tymoshenko's daughter, Eugenia Tymoshenko, told Radio Free Europe-Radio Liberty's Russian's service that the German doctors had concluded that she has a hernia and may need surgery if prison doctors continue to mistreat her.

"If, after the diagnosis by the German doctors ... this continues and she is denied medical help, she will need to be operated on," Tymoshenko was quoted as saying in the interview published over the weekend.

Tymoshenko says her mother is bedridden and cannot sleep because of the pain, but still has to take part in hours-long interrogations as part of a slew of new investigations.

"This shows that they are trying to slowly kill her," Tymoshenko was quoted as saying.

Health Ministry spokeswoman Svitlana Tikhonenko on Monday denied that the foreign doctors had recommended surgery and said Tymoshenko does not require an operation.

Tymoshenko was accused of overstepping her authority as prime minister while negotiating a natural gas contract with Russia in 2009. She charges that President Viktor Yanukovych, her longtime foe, ordered her imprisonment in order to get rid of a political rival. He denies the accusation.

Tymoshenko's jailing has spoiled relations with the West as Ukraine lobbies for greater economic and political integration with the European Union. Brussels has put on hold the signing of a key cooperation agreement with Kiev over Tymoshenoko's case, and the United States has expressed concern over her health earlier this month.]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122809/ Politics Mon, 20 Feb 2012 17:33:04 +0200
The initiators of the bill are Vice Speaker Mykola Tomenko, leader of the BYT-Batkivschyna faction in parliament Andriy Kozhemiakin and leader of the Our Ukraine-People's Self-Defense faction in parliament Mykola Martynenko.

Earlier on Monday, Tomenko said that the opposition would insist on its demand that the president dismiss Tabachnyk as education minister.

The leader of the Regions Party faction in parliament, Oleksandr Yefremov, in turn, described this demand as another smear campaign.

He also said that Tabachnyk's dismissal was the prerogative of the president and the Cabinet of Ministers.]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122793/ Politics Mon, 20 Feb 2012 15:19:40 +0200
He also stressed that the Canadian medical team's findings were in no way influenced by any external factors.

Earlier, Tymoshenko's defense team said that the Ukrainian Health Ministry questioned the qualifications of foreign doctors who were members of the international commission that conducted the examination of the former prime minister, in particular those of the Canadian physicians.

On Feb. 14-15, a commission of German, Canadian and Ukrainian experts examined Tymoshenko in the Kachanivska penal colony in Kharkiv.]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122742/ Politics Sun, 19 Feb 2012 13:54:25 +0200
Sergei Naryshkin is considered a trusted associate of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who seeks to return as president by winning a March 4 presidential contest. Naryshkin was appointed speaker of Russia's Duma after the pro-Putin United Russia party preserved its dominance in Russia politics through a parliamentary election held late last year which was widely considered to be undemocratic.

Speaking last month about a flurry of pro-democracy protests breaking out in Russia which are testing the longstanding grip Putin has had on domestic politics, Naryshkin said an Orange Revolution scenario was not possible in Russia.]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122740/ Politics Sun, 19 Feb 2012 12:02:18 +0200
“The final choice has not been made. There is the need [to make choice], and this will be done in the coming days,” Interfax-Ukraine quoted Azarov as saying during the Shuster LIVE television show.

Azarov stressed that although the president ultimately has the power to appoint his deputy minister, he had enough authority to properly manage and coordinate work of the government.

“I have enough power, and all of the ministers and vice premiers will certainly fulfill all orders of the prime minister. Otherwise they won't work in the government because the government requires a coordinated work in such difficult conditions,” Interfax-Ukraine quoted him as saying.]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122721/ Politics Sat, 18 Feb 2012 18:05:16 +0200
Yulia Tymoshenko’s daughter stressed that the doctors appointed by the Health Ministry of Ukraine falsified her mother’s diagnosis.

“My mother many times refused, verbally and in writing, to be examined by Ukrainian specialists because they offered doctors from the health ministry that falsify diagnoses and say that she’s healthy. The objective is clear: such a diagnosis allows them to continue the investigation in my mother’s cell. She is sick and mostly confined to bed. She can’t sleep because of a back pain and painkillers don’t help,” she added.]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122720/ Politics Sat, 18 Feb 2012 16:15:37 +0200
She stressed that Yulia Tymoshenko was arrested and imprisoned illegally.

"My mother is in prison illegally. She was arrested illegally. Many European leaders and the parliaments of several countries have said that Yulia Tymoshenko’s imprisonment is a political persecution. What Yanukovych should do to remedy the situation is to release all political prisoners," she said.

"Everything my mother is going through - 24-hour video surveillance and lighting that makes it hard for her to sleep, the need to defend herself without a lawyer because they don’t let him into the prison - shows that they’re trying to kill her slowly. They don’t need her right now, especially during preparations for Euro 2012, when Transparency International says that there is lots of corruption in Ukraine. Of course, they don’t need her in the parliamentary elections this autumn. The people will vote for her. Her rating is higher than that of Yanukovych right now by at least 3%," said Eugenia Tymoshenko.]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122702/ Politics Fri, 17 Feb 2012 21:52:58 +0200
The report also said that after the commission members studied the findings of the doctors from Germany and Canada, they came to a final opinion that the conclusions of the international medical team for the most part coincide with the findings of the previous inspections of Tymoshenko by Ukrainian doctors.

The penitentiary service stressed that the treatment prescribed to Tymoshenko in Kyiv prison and Kachanivska penal colony (which the patient repeatedly refused), is consistent with the recommendations of members of the international commission.

"Tymoshenko's current health condition doesn't require surgery or treatment in a specialized medical facility," the prison service said.

The findings and recommendations of the international commission for the further treatment of Tymoshenko were handed to doctors of Kachanivska colony.]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122678/ Politics Fri, 17 Feb 2012 16:31:25 +0200
He noted that the BYT-Batkivschyna faction had conducted "a special operation" to discover evidence of the bribing of people's deputies to form the parliamentary majority.

"We decided from the very beginning that these funds would be transferred for children's treatment," the MP said.

Kozhemiakin passed the funds together with members of the BYT-Batkivschyna faction, Olena Shustik, Andriy Pavlovsky, Serhiy Pashynsky, and the main person involved in the factions' special operation, Roman Zabzaliuk.

After the transfer of the money, the deputies of the BYT-Batkivschyna faction refused to answer journalists' questions.

"There is no place for political PR here in the hospital," Pashynsky said.

Kozhemiakin added that he would not answer any questions related to politics in the hospital. In addition, he refused to explain why the funds were transferred to the hospital in hryvnias, and not in U.S. dollars.

Representatives from the center's board of trustees said that the assets would be spent on the purchase of medicines for children. A list of 38 names of medicines that are to be purchased was distributed to reporters.

Earlier, Zabzaliuk stated that he had obtained a bribe of $450,000 for his transfer from the BYT-Batkivschyna faction to the Reforms for Future deputy group. BYT said that $450,000 is the equivalent of Hr 3.6 million.

The Reforms for Future group denied Zabzaliuk's claims. They said they had collected $100,000 so that he could have an operation in Israel, the member of the group said.

Later on Friday, the Reforms for Future deputy group stated that it is glad that the BYT-Batkivschyna faction had transferred Hr 3.6 million for treatment of children.

"We are happy that our funds will be spent on treatment, actually we raised them for this purpose. We are also satisfied that the sum received by Okhmatdyt is five times higher than the amount of funds raised by deputies of our faction for treatment of this fraud Zabzaliuk," reads a statement of Leader of the Reform for Future group Ihor Rybakov distributed by his press service.]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122672/ Politics Fri, 17 Feb 2012 15:07:15 +0200
He noted that in his opinion, the government had launched a campaign to discredit the foreign doctors who participated in the checkup of Tymoshenko on Feb. 14-15.

Vlasenko said that the government was acting in line with the principle "if the cap fits, wear it."

"Anticipating the situation, they began to work, sending letters through the Foreign Ministry and personally discrediting the doctors who participated in the work of the international commission. This is a planned scheme to hide from Ukraine's citizens and the European Community the real health of Yulia Volodymyrivna Tymoshenko," he said.

Vlasenko said the former prime minister needed serious medical treatment. However, he said that on Friday, she again examined materials from criminal cases filed against her.]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122661/ Politics Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:59:26 +0200
"The prosecutors have found it possible to commute the punishment under the following mitigating circumstances: that he is the father of a child and that he partially admitted his guilt," Pshonka said.

Lutsenko has repeatedly stated earlier that he does not admit his guilt for the alleged offences and said that none of the charges brought against him had been proved.

In particular, while speaking at the court debates on Wednesday, he said: "I don't need pity, and I'm not asking even the court for anything... Yes, I don't repent, and I don't see that I committed any crime. I have nothing to repent for."

On Feb. 14, prosecutors asked the court to sentence Lutsenko to four years and six months in prison with the confiscation of property.

The prosecutors also asked the court to impose a fine of Hr 293,000 against Lutsenko, deprive him of the right to hold public office for three years, and deprive him of the rank of a civil servant.

Given the fact that Lutsenko has already been in jail for one year and two months, this period should be included in the sentence.

Thus, if the court supports the initiative of the state prosecution, the former minister will be in jail for three years and four months.

Lutsenko was detained on Dec. 26, 2010. The ex-minister was charged with committing crimes envisaged by Part 5, Article 191 of the Criminal Code (taking possession of property in a large scale through abuse of office, by preliminary collusion with a group of individuals) and Part 3, Article 365 of the Criminal Code (abuse of power that entailed grave consequences).

The essence of the charges lies in the fact that Lutsenko, while serving as interior minister, allegedly facilitated the accrual of an illegal pension to his driver, Prystupliuk, the allocation of housing to him, as well as his inclusion in the operational services department.

Another episode of charges concerns the extension of an investigative case concerning the driver of former SBU First Deputy Chief Volodymyr Satsiuk as part of an investigation into the poisoning of then presidential candidate Viktor Yuschenko.

The Prosecutor General's Office also accused the former interior minister of misusing budget funds that were allocated for the celebration of Police Day at the Ukraina National Arts Palace in 2008-2009.]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122587/ Politics Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:49:39 +0200
When asked whether he would run in the next presidential election, Yuschenko said: "This is not an interesting question, I don't want to answer it. I'm young and I have been at all main posts in this country. If there is a chance to use this name for Ukraine, I promise that I will use it."

Asked about the possible political career of his son, Andriy, the third president said: "No, he should not repeat my mistake. I should say that politics was my active choice. For many years I did everything possible to avoid politics. Even when I was friends with Viacheslav Maksymovych Chornovil and I rendered financial assistance to the People's Movement (Rukh), I did not see myself in politics."

Yuschenko said he was now focused on creating the Institute of President Viktor Yuschenko within ten to fifteen years. He said he was forming the institute and searching for partners.]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122585/ Politics Thu, 16 Feb 2012 18:30:04 +0200
According to him, the members of the committee decided to invite Karpachova in order to obtain "objective and politically unbiased information about the situation with Yulia Tymoshenko and other former members of the government who are currently under arrest."

"Today, Karpachova has informed us about her work as the Ukrainian ombudsman, spoke about her meetings with representatives of major political groups," said Elmar Brok (Group of the European People's Party, Germany), and Libor Roucek (Group of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament, the Czech Republic).

"She said that she was in regular contact with Tymoshenko, told us about her visit to the prison and much more," the MEP said.

According Kowal, Tymoshenko's case is still among the most important political issues for the European Parliament.

"The situation with Tymoshenko's is of interest to everyone in the European Parliament who deals with Ukraine, which is especially important in the view of the parliamentary elections, when everybody is wondering whether Tymoshenko will be able to take part in the elections," the European politician said.

In addition to Tymoshenko's case, Karpachova briefed European parliamentarians about the development of the situation with former Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko.]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122580/ Politics Thu, 16 Feb 2012 17:39:41 +0200
As reported, Kyivsky District Court of Kharkiv on February 9 satisfied a petition lodged by an investigator of the Security Service of Ukraine to limit the time Tymoshenko can examine the materials of the UESU case until March 28.

On Oct. 11, 2011, Pechersky District Court in Kyiv sentenced Tymoshenko to seven years in prison for abuse of office in signing a gas deal with Russia in 2009.

Tymoshenko was put in a pre-trial detention center in Kyiv on Aug. 5, 2011. On Dec. 30, she was transferred to Kachanivska penal colony No. 54 in Kharkiv.

The SBU is continuing to investigate a criminal case against Tymoshenko on an alleged attempt to embezzle state funds of Ukraine in especially large amounts via transferring to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine debts of $405.5 million owed by the United Energy Systems of Ukraine (UESU) corporation to the Defense Ministry of Russia.]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122573/ Politics Thu, 16 Feb 2012 16:07:01 +0200 Yevhen Pedachenko, said the opposition leader does not require surgery. The foreign doctors left without comment.

The checks and conflicting reports added to the tension surrounding reports of Tymoshenko’s ill health, which led U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Philip Gordon to raise concerns earlier this month on a visit to Kyiv.

Family members and lawyers for Tymoshenko have complained of inactivity by the authorities in dealing with her deteriorating health since she was jailed for seven years on abuse-of-office charges in October. Officials have said she has been provided with the necessary treatment but was refusing examinations.

Serhiy Vlasenko, Tymoshenko’s lawyer, would neither confirm nor deny she suffers from a spinal hernia, citing privacy laws.

He said only Tymoshenko can decide whether she wants her diagnosis disclosed to the public.

Meanwhile, penitentiary system officials said Feb. 16 they are already considering getting Tymoshenko some work in the prison as soon as doctors declare her fit.

Kyiv Post staff writer Yuriy Onyshkiv can be reached at onyshkiv@kyivpost.com]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122569/ Politics Thu, 16 Feb 2012 15:39:02 +0200
Tymoshenko is currently in a condition that "easily arouses people's sympathy," Yuschenko said. "Who benefited from the court ruling on Tymoshenko's case? I am sure society didn't," he said.

Tymoshenko's trial for the gas accords with Russia has thrown Ukraine far back on its way to Europe, as did the murder of journalist Georgy Gongadze, Yuschenko said.

Yuschenko was also asked to forecast the exchange rate of the national currency, the hryvnia, by the end of the year. "The situation depends on many factors. Will Ukraine cope with the shadow economy? How will cooperation with the IMF proceed? Here's what causes pessimism. When were we stable? When foreign investments amounted to $13 billion a year. And now we have only $6 billion, and therefore there are some questions. Until our investors direct their resources to the economy, there can be no long-term guarantees of the national currency's stability," he said.

Asked whether the hryvnia could collapse, Yuschenko said the National Bank of Ukraine's tools are "appropriate to the challenges" and that it is pursuing quite a tough monetary policy, but, in order to avoid a negative scenario and fully keep the situation under control, problems need to be analyzed more thoroughly.]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122566/ Politics Thu, 16 Feb 2012 14:55:39 +0200
Vlasenko also noted that disagreements with Health Ministry experts had never concerned Tymoshenko's diagnosis, but only the assessment of her health and methods of medical treatment.

"It's something like this - both commissions state that the patient has a broken leg, but the Health Ministry proposes treating this leg with a game of football, whereas independent doctors say: 'It's necessary have a cast and ensure rest,'" he said.

Vlasenko expressed confidence that Tymoshenko would fulfill the recommendations of foreign doctors after they make their final conclusions. He said that the ex-premier hoped to get the final recommendations in the next few days.

Earlier, on Thursday, a member of the medical commission, Head of the Romodanov Institute of Neurosurgery, Yevhen Pedachenko, said in Kharkiv that Tymoshenko did not need surgery.

×èòàéòå îá ýòîì íà kyivpost.ua]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122556/ Politics Thu, 16 Feb 2012 12:53:27 +0200
The head of the commission, First Deputy Health Minister Raisa Moiseyenko, said the panel's conclusions and recommendations will be passed to the penitentiary service, which will inform Tymoshenko about them.

"Yulia Volodymyrivna will decide" whether to accept these conclusions and recommendations, she said.

The documents that doctors from Germany and Canada have drawn up after examining Tymoshenko do not mention the term herniation, Moiseyenko said.

"The English-language documents do not mention such a diagnosis," she said.

The German specialists promised to send a special rehabilitation program for Tymoshenko, Moiseyenko said.

"As for rehabilitation methods, the former premier has already received and is using them," she said.

Two German and three Canadian doctors examined Tymoshenko earlier this week. The panel also included Ukrainian medics.


×èòàéòå îá ýòîì íà www.kyivpost.ua]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122552/ Politics Thu, 16 Feb 2012 11:51:17 +0200
On Feb. 14, prosecutors asked the court to sentence Lutsenko to four years and six months in prison with confiscation of property.

The prosecutors also asked the court to impose a fine of Hr 293,000 against Lutsenko, deprive him of the right to hold public office for three years, and deprive him of the rank of a civil servant.

Given the fact that Lutsenko has already been in jail for one year and two months, this period should be included in the sentence.

Thus, if the court supports the initiative of the state prosecution, the former minister will be in jail for three years and four months. Yuri Lutsenko was arrested in December 2010 on charges that he gave illegal bonuses and perks to his driver at the expense of the state.

Prosecutors asked the court Tuesday to find him guilty and send him to jail.

The U.S. and the European Union have condemned Lutsenko's trial and the imprisonment of Tymoshenko as politically motivated.

Tymoshenko is serving a seven-year sentence on charges of abuse of office.

President Viktor Yanukovych says the government is fighting corruption.


×èòàéòå îá ýòîì íà www.kyivpost.ua]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122527/ Politics Wed, 15 Feb 2012 21:42:52 +0200
Addressing the media at the end of Wednesday meeting, Lutsenko said: "Dear journalists, come back tomorrow for my final word, we will not meet for a long time afterwards."]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122523/ Politics Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:41:37 +0200
A commission had been put together to examine the ex-premier including two German and three Canadian doctors. There are Ukrainian doctors in the commission as well.

The German doctors finished examining Tymoshenko on Tuesday evening and left Ukraine, leaving their assessment in a sealed envelope. The envelope is to be opened when the Canadian doctors finish examining Tymoshenko in a bid to ensure the objectivity and independent character of the checkups.]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122522/ Politics Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:30:03 +0200
Vlasenko also explained that the results of the checkup could be disclosed only to the patient, and "any person indicated by the patient." According to him, Tymoshenko pointed to her daughter Yevhenia. At the same time, the defense lawyer added that they would be able to speak about the further treatment of the former prime minister after the diagnosis is made.]]> http://www.kyivpost.com/news/politics/detail/122521/ Politics Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:12:14 +0200
According to Kozhara, opinion prevails in Europe that the outcome of Tymoshenko's case depends on current President Viktor Yanukovych.

"On the one hand, the president is the guarantor of constitutional rights and freedoms of citizens. But on the other hand, it's wrong to force Yanukovych to intervene in a process that began long before his presidency. I think that settling this situation through unlawful means with the sole purpose of meeting the political demands of the European People's Party will do more damage to Ukraine," the MP said.

He also expressed regret that Ukraine had failed to explain to Europeans what Tymoshenko's situation was about.

"Representatives of the EPP (European People's Party) from the very start were not ready to listen to us, they defended the BYT as their political allies. The situation around former Prime Minister of Romania Adrian Nastase, who was, in fact, charged with the same things as Tymoshenko, namely the abuse of office, is a glaring example," the MP said.

"Europe has focused on Ukraine and does not notice Romania, because they believe that tahe country that is not an EU member is easier prey for European political parties. European social democrats are currently trying to protect Nastase, but this is going on quietly," he added.

"Europe has taken to lecturing Ukraine, while we are trying to please Europe. The European Parliament considers that the EU is better and more democratic than Ukraine, and therefore does not respect our laws, while disregarding similar processes in member states. This is nothing but a double standard," the politician said.]]>