Published in Inform issue #152
See the full issue here.

The atmosphere of political repression in Ukraine intensified last week when the authorities reopened an old case against Yulia Tymoshenko, Leader of the Opposition. Ms Tymoshenko, who narrowly lost to Viktor Yanukovych in last February’s presidential elections, was summoned to the Prosecutor General’s office last Wednesday to receive the news that a criminal case, which was closed in January 2005, was being reopened. She was told to report back on Monday 17 May, but then on Friday the prosecutor’s office postponed the appointment, in what looks like an elaborate game of cat and mouse.

“This is a clear-cut case of political harassment designed to intimidate the opposition and it won’t succeed,” said Hryhoriy Nemyria, Foreign Policy Advisor to Yulia Tymoshenko. “Because of her anti-corruption stance, Yulia Tymoshenko has become the most investigated politician in Ukraine’s history. The allegations are fanciful. The goal of this increasingly authoritarian regime is to quash any form of dissent from the opposition.”

The tactic – to summon Ms Tymoshenko then postpone questioning to a later date – appears designed to unsettle the former prime minister and make matters tense and unpredictable. The cancelled Monday interview would have coincided with the visit of Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev to the Ukrainian capital to sign a number of bilateral agreements. On Monday the two presidents signed agreements on natural gas and aerospace.

Ms Tymoshenko predicted that the legal shenanigans could be followed by her imprisonment within 3-4 months. The re-opened case was first launched in May 2004 and thoroughly investigated. In January 2005, before Ms Tymoshenko ever became prime minister, the same prosecutor’s office concluded that there was no case to answer.

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Kyiv Post

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said she supports BYT leader Yulia Tymoshenko in her struggle for democracy in Ukraine.

"Any steps being taken by Ukraine and its leadership will be carefully assessed in Europe to see if the rhetoric corresponds to actual actions," Merkel was quoted by Tymoshenko's official Web site as saying at a meeting in Aachen, Germany, on Thursday.

Tymoshenko and Merkel also discussed the political situation in Ukraine, especially aspects linked to the rule of law, human rights and civil liberties.

They paid particular attention to ensuring and developing the energy independence of Ukraine as a key component of ensuring the energy security of the whole of Europe.

Tymoshenko is visiting the German city of Aachen on Thursday, where a ceremony to award the Charlemagne Prize to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk took place.

Press Release

Ukraine’s Leader of the Opposition Yulia Tymoshenko, was today summoned to the Prosecutor General’s Office in Kyiv, where she was informed that an old criminal case against her is to be reopened. This latest move to intimidate and discredit the opposition follows a long list of repressive actions being undertaken by the new administration of President Viktor Yanukovych.

The case in question was first opened in May 2004. The case was thoroughly investigated and closed in January 2005, when the same office concluded that there was no case to answer. At that time Ms Tymoshenko was not the Prime Minister.

“This is a clear-cut case of political harassment designed to intimidate the opposition and it won’t succeed,” said Hryhoriy Nemyria, Deputy Leader of the Bloc of Yulia Tymoshenko. “Because of her anti-corruption stance, Yulia Tymoshenko has become the most investigated politician in Ukraine’s history. The allegations are fanciful. The goal of this increasingly authoritarian regime is to quash any form of dissent by the opposition.”

Since coming to power as president on 25 February 2010, Mr Yanukovych’s team has also assumed control of parliament. He has cancelled local elections scheduled for May; clamped down on a free media (provoking outrage from Ukrainian journalists and criticism from Reporters without Borders and the European Federation of Journalists); violated the Constitution by extending the Russian navy’s lease on the Black Sea port of Sevastopol; denied the opposition parliamentary positions for which it is entitled by law; pushed legislation through parliament without allowing time for due consultation; disbanded civic society groups, etc.

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Tymoshenko.ua

Batkivshchyna leader Yulia Tymoshenko claims that the appointment of Adam Martyniuk as first deputy head of the Verkhovna Rada is a sign of the monopolization of power and authoritarianism of the new Ukrainian leadership.

"Yanukovych is not just curtailing democracy, he is blatantly and cynically building authoritarianism and today his next step is taking away the opposition’s right to appoint the first vice speaker of parliament, which contradicts the traditions that we established when we were in power," Yulia Tymoshenko said today in the Verkhovna Rada.

In her opinion, this indicates a curtailing of traditions and fundamentals of Ukraine’s democratic development. "You can compare how our team behaved when we were in power with regard to the development of democracy and how Yanukovych is behaving today. This was our proposal when we were in power for the post of first vice speaker to belong to the opposition. This was our goodwill to cooperate, to control and influence all processes in parliament," recalled Yulia Tymoshenko.

Tymoshenko.ua

Batkivshchyna leader Yulia Tymoshenko has announced that a decision regarding protests on the day of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Ukraine will be made only after the reports are heard from Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Hryshchenko regarding the text of the agreements to be signed on May 17.

"Based on the documents that will be presented tomorrow, we will consult with civil society representatives and decide what to do so that Ukraine’s national interests aren’t belittled," Yulia Tymoshenko said today in the Verkhovna Rada.

The leader of Batkivshchyna recalled that thanks to public pressure, the Verkhovna Rada’s agenda for Wednesday, May 12, includes a report by Azarov’s government on the progress of talks between Ukraine and Russia on agreements that are planned to be signed on May 17 during Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Ukraine.

Tymoshenko.ua

Batkivshchyna leader Yulia Tymoshenko believes it is society’s victory that the agenda for tomorrow’s plenary session of parliament includes the issue of a report from Mykola Azarov’s government on the progress of talks between Ukraine and Russia on agreements that are to be signed on May 17 during Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Ukraine.

"We forced them to vote for this in the Verkhovna Rada and tomorrow they will have to begin their rotten working day by reporting what they’ll be signing on May 17. I thank you for this victory," Yulia Tymoshenko said at today’s rally outside the Verkhovna Rada.

In her opinion, the government fears that the people will take to the streets in a massive act of protest. "All we needed was your presence here today and now tomorrow they’ll be reporting. Yet they surrounded us by special forces…Why? Because they’re afraid of you! Don’t think that you’re weak," she said.

"If there are hundreds of thousands of people on Maidan they will announce early elections. If there are hundreds and hundreds of thousands of people, Yanukovych will resign. Because they’re afraid of you. But if the streets are quiet, then the Constitution, parliament and government won’t work and the courts will do as they please. That’s why you being here is the first victory," believes Yulia Tymoshenko.

Tymoshenko.ua

Batkivshchyna leader Yulia Tymoshenko held a meeting of the BYuT faction in the Verkhovna Rada during which a decision was passed to demand that the agenda for the plenary meeting of parliament include reports from Prime Minister Mykola Azarov and Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Hryshchenko on the content of the Ukrainian-Russian agreements that are planned to be signed during Russia President Dmitry Medvedev’s visit to Ukraine.

Meanwhile, an action in defense in Ukraine is underway in front of Mariyinsky Palace.

Published in Inform issue #151
See the full issue here.

Last Friday, at a meeting in Sochi, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin proposed a merger between Gazprom and Naftohaz Ukrainy – Ukraine’s debt-laden state gas company. Considering the disparity in size between the two companies and Naftohaz’s perilous debt situation, the move would be an effective takeover of Naftohaz and would put an end to any hope of Ukraine’s energy independence.

“We spoke about integration in the nuclear sphere. We are ready to do the same in gas. I propose to merge Gazprom and Naftohaz of Ukraine,” said Mr Putin.

Leader of the Opposition Yulia Tymoshenko, described the proposal as "an ambitious plan for the liquidation of Ukraine."

The merger suggestion has attracted a barrage of criticism and heightened the alarm at which Ukraine’s leaders are willingly allowing the country to be sucked into Russia’s orbit.

Dmytro Mosiyenko, the Editor-in-Chief of Ukraine's Oil Market magazine, doubted the viability of a merger. "Call it anything you want but it's not business," he said, "it's pure geopolitics."

In a radio interview, Mr Putin’s press secretary, Dmitri Peskov argued that it would not be an acquisition of a junior party, but the creation of a joint company. Ukraine is interested to have a co-owner, Gazprom, for its Naftohaz. On the other hand, Gazprom is interested in Ukraine’s pipelines undergoing modernisation and operating at full transit capacity,” said Mr Peskov.

Describing the issue as “hugely sensitive,” Tim Ash, Head of Research for CEEMA at the Royal Bank of Scotland, said “Clearly a joint venture between Gazprom and Naftohaz would risk, from the Ukrainian perspective at least, ceding of some substantial control of pipelines, which may be less than appealing.

A full merger is unlikely. However a joint venture company is still likely to give Russia control – similar to the situation in Belarus. “Creating a joint venture would further extend Russia's involvement in the commanding heights of Ukraine's economy," said Chris Weafer, an analyst at Uralsib.

Ms Tymoshenko spoke on behalf of the United Opposition in condemning the proposal. “Only a nationwide resistance can stop this,” she said.