Tymoshenko wants Crimea back
Ahead of presidential elections in
May.
Former Ukrainian Prime Minister — and presidential candidate —
Yulia Tymoshenko wants Crimea back.
And she’s backed by thousands here in
Kyiv square, draped in the colors of the Ukrainian flag.
(SOUNDBITE)
(Ukrainian) FORMER UKRAINIAN PRIME MINISTER AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, YULIA
TYMOSHENKO, SAYING:
“I set it as my goal to bring the occupation of Crimea
to an end. I don’t perceive statements that are being voiced around the world
today or those analytical reports given to the leaders of the biggest countries
saying that Ukraine has already lost Crimea and that we must be reconciled to
this fact. I want to tell you now with all my responsibility that I will never
be reconciled to this fact. Crimea is Ukraine. Crimea is Ukrainian. And we will
return it to us and release it from occupants.”
The former Prime Minister
has spent time in prison. She was jailed in 2011 for abuse of office linked to a
gas deal she had brokered with Russia.
Mainly under prison guard in a
hospital, she was freed when Former President Viktor Yanukovich fled on February
20.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) ODESSA RESIDENT, STEPAN BALMADGY,
SAYING:
“She is an experienced politician. She went through what God
forbid anyone go through. She knows how to find a way out for the country from
this political crisis. And she can. We are sure that she will be able to do
that. All her rivals like Poroshenko, Klitschko – her main rivals – will not be
able to do that. Yulia is the only hope.”
For now, she’ll face off against
Petro Poroshenko, who on Saturday was backed by boxer-turned-politician Vitaly
Klitschko.
Klitschko decided to pull out of the race.