COPENHAGEN, 12 October 2011 – OSCE Parliamentary Assembly President Petros Efthymiou issued the following statement today upon hearing the announcement of a seven-year prison sentence for former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko:

"The sentencing of Yulia Tymoshenko to seven years in prison is a cause for deep concern. With allegations that the case was politically motivated and that her lawyers were unable to mount an adequate defence, the appearance of political bias certainly exists in this case. 

Considering the high political profile of the case, I expected the fullest degree of transparency in this prosecution, which is a point I raised with Ukrainian authorities in an official visit to the country last month. I look forward to continuing to work closely with the Ukrainian authorities and political parties in Ukraine to address these concerns and further strengthen Ukraineʼs democratic structures."