Tymoshenko case: Europe pressure on Ukraine intensifies

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

30 April 2012 Last updated at 15:39 GMT

Tymoshenko case: Europe pressure on Ukraine intensifies

Several European leaders have cancelled visits to Ukraine amid growing concern over alleged mistreatment of the jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.

Both EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding will boycott the Euro 2012 tournament in Ukraine.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel may do so too. A spokesman said any such visit would depend on Ms Tymoshenko's fate.

Five European presidents are avoiding a summit next month in Yalta, Ukraine.

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Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17892514

[Eugene]

1. Ukraine attacks soccer boycott as Cold War tactic

Source: Reuters

Ukraine attacks soccer boycott as Cold War tactic

By Olzhas Auyezov

KIEV | Mon Apr 30, 2012 12:30pm EDT

(Reuters) - Ukraine described threats by European powers to shun the Euro soccer championship it will host in June as a return to Cold War tactics on Monday, after several leaders called off their visits over the treatment of a leading opposition politician.

Relations between Ukraine and the European Union have been strained by the conviction of Yulia Tymoshenko - the main political rival of President Viktor Yanukovich - last October, a case her supporters say was politically driven.

A German government spokesman said any visit by Chancellor Angela Merkel during the tournament would be linked to Tymoshenko's fate. Several other leaders also said they would scrap plans to visit Ukraine over the case.

"I would not like to think that German state leaders can reanimate methods of the Cold War period and make sports a hostage of politics," Ukrainian foreign ministry spokesman Oleh Voloshin told Interfax news agency.

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Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/30/us-ukraine-tymoshenko-idUSBRE83T0R620120430