European Forum

Tymoshenko prosecution may set back Ukraine’s hopes for the EU

Tuesday’s (27 September) resumption of the trial of Ukraine's former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and the prosecutor’s call for a prison term of seven years may set back Ukraine’s hopes for EU integration.

Tymoshenko, one of the prominent opposition politicians, who has been on trial since June this year, is charged with abuse of power after signing a natural-gas agreement with Russia during her prime ministerial term. In January 2009 Tymoshenko’s authorization of a new agreement ended the 17-day disruption of gas supplies to EU countries via Ukraine. At the same time, the deal obliged Ukraine to pay Russia 0 per thousand cubic metres, which was recently described by Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov as an "enslaving contract". Tymoshenko denies the allegations saying the gas agreement with Russia was signed according to legal procedures, the evidence to which are treaty ratifications by Naftohaz, the government and the Verkhovna rada (parliament), and suggests her prosecution is politically motivated.

Earlier, European Union leaders expressed their concerns warning the Tymoshenko case could affect EU-Ukraine relations. Štefan Füle, the EU Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy, said Ukraine’s EU integration perspectives might be blocked and related the risk to the ongoing political trial against opposition politicians in Ukraine, and former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in the first place. German Chancellor Angela Merkel telephoned last week Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to tell him the European Union relations with Ukraine depend on the country’s commitments to democracy and the rule of law, and specifically named Tymoshenko’s case. Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said it is “immoral” to link Tymoshenko’s trial to European integration aspirations of Ukraine.

Ukraine is currently in its final stage of signing an Association Agreement with a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) with the EU, expected to be concluded at the EU-Ukraine summit on 14-16 December. After completing this stage, Ukraine will be eligible for EU membership application. Member of European Parliament from Poland, Pawel Zalewski, said the Tymoshenko issue should not influence Ukraine’s EU accession considerations nor the association agreement scheduled to be signed till the end of this year.

Yanukovych is to meet European leaders at the 29-30 September Eastern Partnership summit in Warsaw, where the reclassification of charges against Tymoshenko could be discussed, an EU suggestion which was already met favourably by the Yanukovych leadership.

The United States also urged for Tymoshenko’s release, expressing their concern on ‘the rule of law’ and ‘politically-motivated prosecutions’ in Ukraine.


Sources: RFE/RL, Euroactiv.com, Kyivpost, Unian.net. Image: Flickr.