Solution emerging on Tymoshenko’s case: reports

EurActiv reported that on the 4 October 2013 EU envoys formally asked Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich to pardon his jailed opponent Yulia Tymoshenko, while she signalled for the first time that she was ready for an agreement that would send her to Germany.

However, Germany's foreign minister Guido Westerwelle reported little progress in securing a quick release of Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko after meeting President Viktor Yanukovich on the 10 October 2013, saying there were political and legal obstacles.

A European Parliament monitoring mission in Ukraine was also unable to secure the release of jailed former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko although Stefan Fuele, EU enlargement commissioner, expected her to be freed soon. The monitoring mission was extended until November 2013, in the hope her release would make possible the signature of the EU-Ukraine agreement during the Vilnius summit.

On the 18 October 2013, EurActiv reported that Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said he would sign a bill allowing the jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko to travel abroad for medical treatment.

The EU mediators resumed a push on the 29 October 2013 to secure the release of Mrs. Tymoshenko, with EU politicians warning time was running out before the signing of the association agreement.

The EU has been pressing for her release as a condition for signing deals on association and free trade with the former Soviet republic at a summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on 28-29 November 2013.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: EU in talks to get Tymoshenko into German clinic http://www.europeansources.info/record/eu-in-talks-to-get-tymoshenko-into-german-clinic/

ESO: Background information: Memo: Joint statement by the President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and the President of the European Council Herman Van Rompuy after their meeting with the President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych on the margins of the UN General Assembly http://www.europeansources.info/record/memo-joint-statement-by-the-president-of-the-european-commission-jose-manuel-barroso-and-the-president-of-the-european-council-herman-van-rompuy-after-their-meeting-with-the-president-of-ukraine-vikt/

ESO: Background Information: Lithuania: EU Presidency, July-December 2013 http://www.europeansources.info/record/lithuania-eu-presidency-july-december-2013/

EUObserver, 07.10.13: Moment of truth for EU-Ukraine treaty http://euobserver.com/foreign/121688

EurActiv, 11.10.13: Tymoshenko’s release ‘complicated’, German minister admits http://www.euractiv.com/europes-east/tymoshenko-release-complicated-g-news-531020

Deutsche Welle, 11.10.13: Berlin insists on Tymoshenko's exit from Ukraine http://dw.de/p/19xll

EUObserver, 16.10.13: No release of Ukraine former PM, despite EU optimism http://euobserver.com/foreign/121802

EurActiv, 16.10.13: Suspense grows in EU-Ukraine gamble http://www.euractiv.com/europes-east/suspense-grows-eu-ukraine-gamble-news-531131

EurActiv, 18.10.13: Ukraine President ready to release Tymoshenko for treatment http://www.euractiv.com/europes-east/ukraine-president-ready-release-news-531169

EurActiv, 30.10.13: EU makes new bid for deal on Ukraine's jailed Tymoshenko http://www.euractiv.com/europes-east/eu-new-bid-deal-ukraines-jailed-news-531396

Spiegel Online International, 30.10.13: Tymoshenko Release: Ukraine's Geopolitical Future Hangs on Deal http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/tymoshenko-release-could-pave-way-for-eu-ukraine-trade-deal-a-930917.html

---