The verdict comes after a trial which did not respect international standards as regards fair, transparent and independent legal process. The verdict illustrates how far away the Ukrainian understanding of criminal and political responsibility is from the EU one. It reveals lasting discrepancies in legal culture. The Czech Republic cannot accept the verdict which might be further abused in a political fight.

It is not the aim of the Czech Republic to give Ukraine, that according to the wishes of its citizens and current elites wishes to head for the European Union, any lessons. It is not only the case of Ms Yulia Tymoshenko. All the Ukrainian politicians, and especially those waiting for the verdict like Mr. Y. Lucenko, should have an indisputable right to take part in the Ukrainian political process including the passive right to vote. 

The Czech Republic desires Ukraine, its European neighbour, to be an independent country without political prisoners, a country with an open plural political system where the national will is a decisive voice of the elections. Only then the Czech Republic will be ready to accept the Ukraine’s application for the EU membership.