Americas

Home page

Americas

UN Sec.-Gen. Ban Ki-moon criticizes conviction of Ukraineâ€™s ex-PM

12 October 2011 04:58 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has expressed his concern over conviction of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, his spokesperson said, APA reports quoting RIA Novosti.

Kievâ€™s Pechyorsky District Court sentenced Tymoshenko on Tuesday to seven years in prison for abuse of office over her signing of a gas deal with Russia in 2009.

â€œThe Secretary-General has noted the concerns voiced widely regarding the judicial proceedings involving the former Ukrainian Prime Minister and other officials,â€ Vannina Maestracci, Associate Spokesperson for the Secretary-General, said.

â€œAnd the Secretary-General expects the judicial proceedings, currently still ongoing, to be conducted in a fair and impartial manner and to follow due process,â€ she added.

Tymoshenkoâ€™s conviction raised international concerns, including from Russia and the United States and, according to experts, might ruin Ukraineâ€™s hopes for associate EU membership.