Storyline
Yulia Tymoshenko was sentenced today by a Ukrainian court to seven years in prison for abuse of office in relation to a gas deal she brokered with Russia in 2009. This sentence was the maximum sought by prosecutors.
Graham Watson, MEP, former ALDE Leader, vice President of ELDR and Senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the European Parliament thinks that this verdict is a real set back to EU Ukraine relations.
G.W: "I think that this will be a serious setback to relations between the EU and Ukraine. This is a rather hard sentence in a trial which some would consider political and comes at a crucial time in talks between the European Union and Ukraine."
"The case against her is that she signed things as a Prime Minister which would normally also require the signature of the Minister of Economy or the Minister of Energy - that may or may not true and it may or may not be the case that she was unwise to have acted in contempt of Court but what I am sure of is that this will be seen across the world and particularly by the European Peoples Party, the largest party in the European Union, to which Yulia Tymoshenko belongs as being a politically motivated trial, that is why I think that the procedure was unwise and I think that the sentence seems out of all proportion to the crime that was committed."
The verdict comes at a time when the EU were set to sign an association agreement later this year with Ukraine. This clearly politically motivated trial raises serious doubts about the rule of law in Ukraine and is sure to jeopardise relations between the EU and Ukraine.
The EU High Representative, Catherine Ashton has already condemned this trial and said that "The EU will reflect on its policies with Ukraine".
Yulia Tymoshenko's allies are to launch an appeal against verdict in the coming days. They can also appeal at a higher court down the line if the first appeal is thrown out.
Shotlist
1.Outside view of the EP building in Brussels with flags
2. SOUNDBITE Graham Watson:
"I think that this will be a serious setback to relations between the EU and Ukraine. This is a rather hard sentence in a trial which some would consider political and comes at a crucial time in talks between the European Union and Ukraine."
3. Exterior view of the House of Government of Ukraine (night shots)
4. Views of the meeting between Mirek Topolánek and Yulia Tymoshenko, Kiev, January 2009
5. SOUNDBITE Graham Watson:
"The case against her is that she signed things as a Prime Minister which would normally also require the signature of the Minister of Economy or the Minister of Energy - that may or may not true and it may or may not be the case that she was unwise to have acted in contempt of Court but what I am sure of is that this will be seen across the world and particularly by the European Peoples Party, the largest party in the European Union, to which Yulia Tymoshenko belongs as being a politically motivated trial, that is why I think that the procedure was unwise and I think that the sentence seems out of all proportion to the crime that was committed."
6. EP President Jerzy BUZEK welcoming Yulia TYMOSHENKO, Opposition leader and former Prime Minister of Ukraine, in his office (shots at the table)
[ALDEADLE-BROADCAST] [FULL-HD] [BROADCAST] [Language EN]
111011-ALDEADLE-BRODCAST-VIDEO-Graham-Watson-on-Timoshenko-verdict
