Ukraine - political pardons
Decision an important step but release of Tymoshenko must follow
Commenting on the decision by Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych to pardon former Ukrainian prime minister Yuriy Lutsenko and Georgi Heorhiy Filipchuk, Greens/EFA co-president Rebecca Harms and foreign affairs spokesperson Werner Schulz stated:
"We welcome the release and pardon of Yuriy Lutsenko and Georgi Heorhiy Filipchuk but the decision has come far too late and remains incomplete without their complete rehabilitation. Concerns about the health of Mr. Lutsenko still remain, with persecution and imprisonment having clearly taken their toll.
"While today's decision is a source of relief for all involved, it underlines the continued plight of other incarcerated and persecuted opposition politicians, notably Yulia Tymoshenko. There can be no double standards. President Yanukovych has taken a first step in the right direction with the pardon of Lutsenko and Heorhiy Filipchuk, we hope he will now follow this with the release of Yulia Tymoshenko."
