Štefan Füle, European Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighborhood Policy, says the Ukrainian authorities made legal mistakes in the case against Yulia Tymoshenko, according to the Official web site of Yulia Tymoshenko.

“I think we can say that we think something is wrong with that case against [Yulia Tymoshenko]. To put someone in prison for exercising political responsibility based on two articles of the criminal code which found its roots in 1960 Soviet legislation is not what you expect from the country with aspirations trying to sign the most ambitious agreement the EU has negotiated with any of its partners,” Stefan Fule said in an interview with Euronews.

According to him, it is up to the president and the authorities to handle this issue in a way that is most effective and corresponds to the legal and constitutional framework. “When you have something wrong happening, you need to have certain ways how to correct that issue. And what would you expect from the best partners and best friends you have – to be open and frank. And not only telling you how wonderful you are but also warning you that this or that is not in the line of their intention, of their aspirations, of the values we are both committed to,” he said.

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Štefan Füle added that the Ukrainian government must do many things before the signing and ratification of the association agreement between Ukraine and the EU. “We also made it very clear that for that agreement to be signed and ratified, the political conditions need to be right. Ukraine must deliver on the values that are the basis of our relationship, which are very much reflected in that association agreement. Misusing the judiciary for political purposes, as in the case of the former prime minister and a number of former politicians is a sign of the weak rule of law in Ukraine. There is a lot Ukraine needs to do to finish successfully this process, for us to benefit from the new relationship based on the association agreement,” he added.