Experts: Yanukovych could release Lutsenko, situation with Tymoshenko unclear

Kyiv, March 1 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has confirmed experts' forecasts that former Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko could be released from prison by May 2013, political analysts have said.

"What I heard and what I was told confirms the view that Lutsenko could allegedly leave prison in a month or two, by this May. And there were also hints [that he might be released] before that. Almost all experts were inclined to believe that Lutsenko will most likely be released," Director of Kyiv's Center for Political and Conflict Studies Mykhailo Pohrebynsky said at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine on Friday.

As for the situation with former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, the analyst said this issue was unclear.

"It's still unclear whether there could be any concessions. There's an impression that it's still an annoying subject for the president. He believes that Tymoshenko is to blame for the current difficult situation with Ukrainian finances and points to the huge amounts that we are paying in connection with the 'gas contract' signed by Tymoshenko," Pohrebynsky said.

Director of Ukraine's Institute of Global Strategies Vadym Karasiov, who also attended the press conference, in turn, said: "The issue of political prisoners remains a key subject in terms of the domestic and foreign policy agenda... The question of Lutsenko is already clear. The question of Tymoshenko is not [as clear as that of Lutsenko]. But I think that by the beginning of this summer this issue will also be partially resolved, perhaps not the way proposed by the Europeans, but a certain compromise on Tymoshenko will be found."