Foreign Office Minister expresses concern at conviction of former Ukrainian Minister
Minister for Europe David Lidington has spoken following the conviction of former Ukrainian Interior Minister Yuri Lutsenko.
Speaking today he said:
“The conviction of former Ukrainian Interior Minister Yuri Lutsenko is deeply concerning and another example of the decline in respect for the rule of law in Ukraine. The apparent political motivation behind the trial calls into question Ukraine’s commitment to a closer relationship with the European Union and runs counter to fundamental EU principles of democracy and a transparent and fair judicial process. The UK calls on Ukraine to demonstrate its commitment to European values, and looks forward to free and fair parliamentary elections in October 2012 in which the opposition is able to play a full role.”