Tymoshenko daughter seek US Congress
Updated: 16:41, Friday May 18, 2012
The daughter of former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s has told US politicians she is ‘very afraid’ for her mother’s life in detention.
Speaking on Thursday via live video link from Kyiv to a House of Representatives hearing in Washington, Yevgenia Tymoshenko warned that Ukraine’s rulers will do ‘anything possible’ to manipulate results of the country’s upcoming October election.
She told the so-called Helsinki Commission on security and co-operation in Europe that she was ‘very afraid for my mother’s life’ in the hospital where Yulia Tymoshenko is surrounded by medical personnel who are under intense pressure from the regime.
The opposition leader has been struggling with medical problems and has complained about rough handling by her guards. She briefly went on a hunger strike to protest against her detention.
‘We are just asking you please to keep the pressure on,’ Yevgenia said.
‘Please don’t leave us alone, because in Ukraine there’s not enough power in people, not strong enough to fight against this injustice.’
Tymoshenko has been imprisoned since August, when she was given a seven-year sentence for abuse of power. The case has drawn international outrage, with observers saying her prosecution was politically motivated.
President Viktor Yanukovych said Tymoshenko and 13 former senior officials from her government had been accused of various crimes.
Yevgenia said a Ukrainian court recently delayed hearing her mother’s prison sentence appeal, so her lawyer was now presenting the case to the European Court of Human Rights.
Also testifying at the hearing was David Kramer, president of democracy advocacy group Freedom House. He said the October polls would be ‘a critical test’ of Ukraine’s ability to conduct elections which meet the criteria of international monitors.
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