The defense counsel of the former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, Serhiy Vlasenko, believes that the ex-premier should be released based on the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights.

"Today, for the first time, a European institution has given a legal opinion on the case of Yulia Tymoshenko. Based on Article 18 of the European Convention on Human Rights, the ECHR unanimously held that Tymoshenko was arrested and held in custody unlawfully and that she is subject to politically motivated prosecution," the Batkivschyna Party's press service quoted Vlasenko as saying.

According to him, the Ukrainian government should immediately comply with the ruling of the ECHR, releasing Tymoshenko and restoring her rights.