Foreign Minister disappointed with verdict over Tymoshenko

Össur Skarphéðinsson, Minister for Foreign Affairs, is deeply disappointed with the verdict in the case of Yulia Tymoshenko, former Prime Minister of Ukraine, who was sentenced to 7 years in prison yesterday. Minister Skarphéðinsson supports the declaration made by the European Union critizising the trial over Ms Tymoshenko and will also support such a declaration with the OSCE later this week.

The trial over Ms. Tymoshenko did not respect the international standards as regards fair, transparent and independent legal process, despite several calls for improvements. It is important  that a fair, transparent and impartial process is ensured in any appeal.  The verdict and the trial is especially disappointing for a country that currently holds the Chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and will chair the OSCE in 2013.