Ukraine’s President Victor Yanukovich discounted today the anticipated liberation of the former prime minister, Yulia Timoshenko, whose release from prison is being called for by the European Union and internal opposition, with strong pressure being directed at the parliament and government.
“It’s impossible to set Timoshenko free because Ukrainian law does not allow for such a thing,” said Yanukovich, speaking from Vienna, as reported by the national press.
Today the Supreme Rada (Parliament) annulled a law presented that would have allowed the former government leader, imprisoned since 2011 for abusing her power, to leave prison to receive medical treatment in Germany.
“Such a decision would need to correspond to Ukrainian law, and as a democratic state, we must abide by legal norms,” insisted Yanukovich during a press conference.
The president added that all Ukraines are equal before the law and there should be no special treatment for Timoshenko.
Opposition factions have submitted six pieces of legislation seeking to modify the Penal Code, yet none obtained the minimum 226 votes required for approval at the Rada.
Last week, the presidential pardons committee denied the clemency sought by the opposition for Timoshenko.
