14:21 09.04.2013

Lutsenko's release creates atmosphere for signing Ukraine-EU Association Agreement, says president's administration

2 min read

The Ukrainian authorities' latest actions to resolve the problem of selective justice create the proper political atmosphere for signing Association Agreement between Ukraine and EU, according to the president's administration.

"I think that the latest events and measures taken by all branches of the Ukrainian authorities in all spheres both domestic life, as well as in relations with EU, including the settlement of some issues of so-called selective justice, testify to there being serious progress in creating the proper political atmosphere to achieve our main aim - signing the Association Agreement during the summit in Vilnius in November 2013," the presidential advisor and head of the main department for international relations at the presidential administration, Andriy Honcharuk, said during a briefing in Kyiv on Tuesday.

Earlier the Foreign Ministry reported that the order of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to pardon several convicts, including ex-interior minister Yuriy Lutsenko, was issued as part of the decriminalization and humanization of Ukrainian legislation.

As reported, on April 5, Verkhovna Rada Human Rights Commissioner Valeria Lutkovska asked Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to pardon Lutsenko because of his state of health.

On April 7, Yanukovych signed a decree pardoning several convicts, including Lutsenko. The ex-minister was released on the same day.

Pechersky District Court in Kyiv found Lutsenko guilty of committing official crimes and sentenced him to four years in prison. The minister was supposed to serve his term until December 2014.

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