The European Parliament adopted a resolution on Ukraine: the cases of Yulia Tymoshenko and other members of the former government.

The resolution had been tabled by the EPP, ALDE, and Greens/EFA groups.

It is concerned about the increase in selective prosecution of figures from the political opposition in Ukraine as well as the disproportionality of measures applied, particularly in the cases of Ms Tymoshenko, former Prime Minister of Ukraine, and Mr Lutsenko, former Interior Minister, who has been in detention since December 2010. Parliament recalls that Yulia Tymoshenko has been charged with abuse of power in connection with the conclusion of gas contracts with the Russian Federation in 2009. Since the launch of the investigations on 15 December 2010, she has been interrogated 44 times, a travel ban has been imposed on her, both domestically and internationally, for nearly six months, she has been prevented by the Ukrainian authorities from travelling inside Ukraine on four occasions, as well as from travelling to Brussels in February and in June, and she was summoned and questioned on 25 May 2011 for several hours before being released.

Members express support for the Ukrainian Human Rights Commissioner, Nina Karpachova, who has asked the Ukrainian Prosecutor General to consider the possibility of applying preventive measures that do not involve detention. They also remind the Ukrainian authorities that the principle of collective responsibility for the decisions of the government does not permit the prosecution of individual members of the government for decisions that were taken collegially.

Parliament underlines the fact that strengthening of the rule of law and a credible fight against corruption are essential not only for the conclusion of the Association Agreement and the deepening of EU-Ukraine relations in general, but also for the consolidation of democracy in Ukraine. It calls on the Commission to assist the reform of the judiciary in Ukraine by making better use of the EU capacity building programme and to consider the creation of a High Level EU Advisory Group to Ukraine to assist the country in its efforts to come into line with EU legislation, including as regards the judiciary.

Lastly, Parliament stresses that ongoing investigations of prominent Ukrainian political leaders should not preclude them from actively participating in the political life of the country, meeting voters and travelling to international meetings. It calls, therefore, on the Ukrainian authorities to lift the travel ban, both domestically and internationally, on Yulia Tymoshenko and other key political figures.