Bundestag to block Ukraine-EU association while Tymoshenko in prison, says German politician
The Bundestag, Germany's parliament, will block the signing of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement if former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is not released from prison, Chairman of the Committee on the Affairs of the European Union of the Bundestag Gunther Krichbaum has said.
"The Association Agreement between the European Union and Ukraine will be blocked. As a chairman of the Committee on the Affairs of the European Union of the Bundestag, I will recommend to do so until the case against Yulia Tymoshenko is closed… For us this case is a symbol of Ukraine's attitude towards human rights and democracy," he said on Wednesday, October 17, after a meeting with the ex-premier's daughter Yevhenia Tymoshenko.
According to the press service of the Batkivschyna Party, Krichbaum also praised the fact that Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel at a meeting with Yevhenia on Wednesday expressed her support to Yulia Tymoshenko and the democratic opposition of Ukraine.
He also stressed that the way in which the parliamentary elections will be held in Ukraine is very important to the EU.
"The international community is observing the election process in Ukraine and will investigate into violations, if any of them are registered," Krichbaum said.
