With the recent boycott of the leaders from Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia and the Czech Republic on the upcoming summit in Ukraine, the United States expressed deep concern of former Ukrainian’s Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s maltreatment and other imprisoned members of her former government.
US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says the photographs of Mrs. Tymoshenko released by the Ukrainian Human Rights Ombudsman further call into question the conditions of her confinement.
Ms. Clinton urges urgent medical assistance in an appropriate facility and request that the U.S. Ambassador be given access to her.
“We continue to call for her release, the release of other members of her former government and the restoration of their full civil and political rights.
“ -Ms. Clinton
Reports say Mr. Tymoshenko claimed she was struck in the stomach when she was taken from her prison cell in Kharkiv, Ukraine, to visit a medical clinic against her will on 20th of April 20.
However, the current Ukrainian administration reasoned out that Mrs. Tymoshenko was not punched and said she may have “bumped into blunt objects” as she was taken to the clinic where reportedly she refused treatment.
Mrs. Tymoshenko went on a hunger strike to draw attention to “violence and lack of rights” in her country.
In October 2011, a Ukrainian court ruled Mrs. Tymoshenko guilty of abuse of authority for signing overpriced gas contracts with Russia. The Court sentenced her to the seven-year prison term.
Reports say the deals caused damages to the country amounting to almost $190 million. The court ordered Mrs. Tymoshenko to repay the money.
The former Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko has been charged with violations worth USD 20 million.
The charges against Yulia Tymoshenko include embezzlement of state funds in excess of UAH 14 million (equivalent of USD 7 million at the time – ed.), VAT evasion in the amount of UAH 4.7 million (USD 2.3 million), attempted embezzlement of UAH 11 million (USD 5.5 million) in VAT reimbursement, forgery and tax evasion for not paying UAH 681 thousand in personal income tax.
Mrs. Tymoshenko was prime minister from January to September 2005 and December 2007 to March 2010.
