Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 October 2012
74. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade the extent to which basic human rights remain available to the former Prime Minister of the Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko; if in the course of her incarceration she has had regular visits from international monitors on a regular basis; if she has set out any specific requirements in recent times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45237/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the case of former Prime Minister of Ukraine, Yulia Tymoshenko, is a matter of deep concern to Ireland, the European Union and the wider international community. I refer the Deputy to my previous reply on 11 July. Since then, on 29 August, Ms. Tymoshenko’s appeal against her conviction was rejected by Ukraine’s High Specialised Court. This was a very disappointing outcome. Indeed, the EU has made it clear that further progress towards the signature and ratification of its Association Agreement with Ukraine would require a number of positive steps on the resolution of the issue of politically motivated trials and convictions, including that of Ms. Tymoshenko, as well as the fair and transparent conduct of the parliamentary elections taking place on 28 October. I fully support this position. It is a matter of regret that Ms. Tymoshenko and others will not be permitted to take part in the elections.
The Deputy will be aware that Ms. Tymoshenko has been visited by a wide range of international contacts, although a visit proposed by the Vice-President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly was recently denied. I would continue to urge the Ukrainian authorities, as a minimum, to facilitate such visits as well as all medical and human rights related visits. I made the concerns of the Irish Government on this known to Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Gryshchenko when we met recently at the UN General Assembly.
