Expert: Major change in ratings of political forces possible after verdict on Tymoshenko case
Kyiv, August 9 (Interfax-Ukraine) – A major change in the ratings of the main political forces is possible after the verdict is given in the criminal case opened against former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko over the signing of gas supply contracts with Russia, sociologist and founder of Research & Branding Group Yevhen Kopatko has said.
"Will [the gas supply case] influence the ratings? I think it won't while the trial is going on... [but] I think that these events will have some political consequences by the middle of August," he said at a press conference at the Interfax-Ukraine news agency on Tuesday.
Kopatko also announced data from a sociological study, according to which 20.5% of respondents believe that Tymoshenko's position is more convincing, 20.3% think that the position of the prosecution is more convincing, and 25% believe that the positions of the parties are equally unconvincing.
He said that the position of Tymoshenko was considered more proper in the west of Ukraine (35%) while only 12% in the country's southeastern regions thought the former prime minister was in the right.