EU reps to monitor Tymoshenko case

Two high-profile EU representatives arrived in Kiev today to observe the legal proceedings against jailed former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

Former European Parliament president Pat Cox and former Polish president Aleksander Kwasniewski will be monitoring legal proceedings against Ms Tymoshenko, who has been sentenced to seven years for abuse of office and also faces a number of other charges.

The West has condemned the prosecution of Ms Tymoshenko, the country’s top opposition leader, as politically motivated and has called for her release.

Senior EU officials are boycotting European Championship soccer matches hosted by Ukraine to protest the case.

Ms Tymoshenko says President Viktor Yanukovych, her long-time foe, threw her in jail to bar her from the parliamentary election in October.

Mr Cox and Mr Kwasniewski were expected to meet Mr Yanukovych and other top officials today.

They also hope to visit Ms Tymoshenko, who is being treated for a spinal condition in a hospital, and attend an appeal hearing in her case in late June.

Ms Tymoshenko’s supporters hope the visit by the EU envoys will pressure Ukrainian leaders into finding a compromise in the case.

“The aim of this mission is very clear: it’s to restore justice,” her daughter Eugenia said.