Freedom for Yulia Tymoshenko. Italy and the EU should defend democracy in Europe!
To the PM of the
To the President of the European Commission, Mr. José Manuel Barroso,
To the President of the Italian Republic, Mr. Giorgio Napolitano,
To the Speaker of the Senate of the Italian Republic, Mr. Renato Schifani,
To the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Gianfranco Fini,
To the Secretary of the Foreign Office of the Italian Republic, Mr. Giulio Terzi
To the President of the Italian Republic, Mr. Giorgio Napolitano,
To the Speaker of the Senate of the Italian Republic, Mr. Renato Schifani,
To the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Gianfranco Fini,
To the Secretary of the Foreign Office of the Italian Republic, Mr. Giulio Terzi
Sirs,
On August 5th, Mrs. Yulia Tymoshenko, the leader of the Ukrainian
democratic opposition was arrested in Kyiv. She is well known inItaly
too for her fundamental role in the 2004 "Orange Revolution", the
non-violent revolt which gaveUkraine
On August 5th, Mrs. Yulia Tymoshenko, the leader of the Ukrainian
democratic opposition was arrested in Kyiv. She is well known in
too for her fundamental role in the 2004 "Orange Revolution", the
non-violent revolt which gave
Before the prosecution, she was confined to the capital and prevented from
exercising any political activity in the country as well as from taking
part in a number of important international summits, such as the Assembly of the European Council, the Forum on Democracy in Vilnius and various
summits of the European Popular Party she had been invited to attend by
the speaker of the European Parliament, Mr. Jerzy Buzek.
exercising any political activity in the country as well as from taking
part in a number of important international summits, such as the Assembly of the European Council, the Forum on Democracy in Vilnius and various
summits of the European Popular Party she had been invited to attend by
the speaker of the European Parliament, Mr. Jerzy Buzek.
Right now, pending trial, Mrs. Yulia Tymoshenko is still in solitary
confinement: she is not allowed to see her lawyers, which would be
fundamental in setting up a proper defense (the hearings are held almost
daily). She is not even allowed to see her doctors, in spite of her
precarious health.
confinement: she is not allowed to see her lawyers, which would be
fundamental in setting up a proper defense (the hearings are held almost
daily). She is not even allowed to see her doctors, in spite of her
precarious health.
As attested to by the Legno Storto, the only Italian media agency allowed
in the hearings, as well as by authoritative international agencies, Yulia
Tymoshenko is physically and psychologically impaired, and definitely ill.
Under the circumstances, should she have to face a trial which is clearly
politically motivated, she would stand no chance of a fair justice, since
she is daily confronted with a systematic breach of all fundamental
rights.
Even most witnesses of the prosecution did not support the allegations of
the prosecution.
the prosecution.
Ever since February 2010, when the present president, Mr. Viktor Yanukovych took office, Ukraine's democracy has shown a substantial decline, with local elections marred by irregular twists, independent journalists and media subject to all kinds of pressures, with tens of members of the democratic opposition undergoing unjustified investigations or even arrests. Apart from Yulia Tymoshenko, suffice it to mention the former secretary for foreign affairs, Mr Jury Lucenko, who has been under
custody since December 26 last without any specific charge.
custody since December 26 last without any specific charge.
Considering the situation, we want to express our most severe worry for
the present-day political persecution under way in a country which is
about to sign a most significant Association Treaty with the EU. Actually, a number of people have been coming over to
few years just with a view to contributing to the common growth.
After all, the Italian PM, Mr. Silvio Berlusconi, together with the former
Ukrainian secretary for foreign affairs, Mr. Borys Tarasiuk, taking
advantage of the presence of the Legno Storto in the legal proceedings, have been asked to address Italy and Europe, in the light of the common
belonging to the European Popular Party, a heart-felt support for the
Leader of the Ukrainian Democratic Opposition.
We would very much like Italy and all the other European countries to join
the appeal of Mr. Tarasiuk and ask Mr. Viktor Yanukovych to guarantee Yulia Tymoshenko and the other persecuted exponents of the Orange Revolution a fair trial, in line with European standards, and not a trial reminiscent of Stalin-era show trials, as Freedom-House duly remarked.
the appeal of Mr. Tarasiuk and ask Mr. Viktor Yanukovych to guarantee Yulia Tymoshenko and the other persecuted exponents of the Orange Revolution a fair trial, in line with European standards, and not a trial reminiscent of Stalin-era show trials, as Freedom-House duly remarked.
That would be fundamental in bringing Ukraine Europe for cultural, traditional and human ties, into the common fold.
In point of fact, addresses of this kind have been advanced by the
European Parliament, by the Council of Europe, by the Department of State
of theUSA Great Britain Canada France Germany Poland Australia Sweden Austria
In point of fact, addresses of this kind have been advanced by the
European Parliament, by the Council of Europe, by the Department of State
of the
It is, however, of paramount importance that western leaders should make
it as clearly as possible that such an address is part and parcel of all
countries that do love liberty and democracy.
Yours truly,
