PACE calls for Tymoshenko release

The resolution states clearly that “all available legal means of releasing Mrs. Tymoshenko should be used, bearing in mind that the judicial procedures that led to her conviction has drawn serious criticism,” Sobolev was quoted by the Batkivschyna press service as saying.

“Sobolev is convinced that this can be interpreted as a direct call for Tymoshenko’s release,” the party’s press service said in its report.

The resolution also “states very fairly that Ukraine has made a number of breakthroughs in the sphere of legislation thanks to the agreement reached by the majority and the opposition, which makes us closer to the European Union, specifically, a number of so-called anti-corruption laws and laws establishing transparent rules of the game on economic markets have been adopted, and the legislation dealing with the protection of human rights has been improved,” Sobolev said.

“However, the key idea stated in the resolution, the issue of the illegality of the conviction of opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko for political motives, remains unresolved,” Sobolev said.

This resolution is in effect the last warning to the Ukrainian authorities before the Vilnius summit, stating that European integration is impossible without resolving the Tymoshenko issue and without resolving the issue of the judicial administration and prosecutors service reform, he said.