Ukraine delays debate on Tymoshenko decision
On Tuesday, Ukraine’s members of parliament agreed to postpone for another two days a debate to pass a law to release Timoshenko and give her permission to leave the country for medical treatment in Germany.
Parliament speaker Volodymyr Rybak said that the parliament would convene on Thursday, in order to debate four different bills on treating convicts abroad.
“We have agreed that on Thursday at a full session we will start by considering Euro-integration laws,” said Rybak.
According to reports, the EU envoys have given the local parliament 10 days to pass the law if Kyiv wants to sign an EU Association Agreement later this month.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin recently warned of a possible trade war if Kyiv follows through with its policy of European integration.
Timoshenko was jailed for seven years in 2011 for allegedly abusing her power by signing a gas deal with Russia that prosecutors said was ruinously expensive for Ukraine.
The European Court of Human Rights, however, ruled earlier this year that Timoshenko’s detention was arbitrary and unlawful.
The imprisonment of Timoshenko has triggered a political battle between the EU and Ukraine, with Brussels saying that she is the victim of a political trial.
Experts say Ukraine’s President Viktor Yanukovich is not ready to grant Timoshenko, who is his main political rival, a pardon over fears of her comeback for the 2015 presidential election.
The imprisoned former prime minister suffers from long-standing back problems and Germany has offered her medical care.
GMA/PR