[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 46 (Tuesday, April 9, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S2495]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   POLITICAL IMPRISONMENT IN UKRAINE

  Mr. CARDIN. Madam President. I would like to address the current 
situation in Ukraine, an important country in the heart of Europe, a 
bellweather for democratic development in the region, and the current 
Chairman-in-Office of the OSCE.
  Let me first welcome the release from prison Sunday of former 
Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs and leading opposition figure 
Yuri Lutsenko. Mr. Lutsenko had been convicted on politically motivated 
charges and incarcerated since December 2010. President Yanukovych's 
pardon of Mr. Lutsenko is an encouraging step in the right direction. I 
also welcome the pardon of former Environment Minister Heorhiy 
Filipchuk, who also served as a member of Ms. Tymoshenko's Cabinet and 
had been released last year after his sentence was suspended. By 
pardoning Mr. Lutsenko and Mr. Filipchuk, President Yanukovych is 
indicating not only a willingness to resolve what has been a major 
irritant in Ukraine's relations with the United States and the EU, but 
also a stain on Ukraine's democratic credentials.
  At the same time, I remain deeply concerned about the politically 
motivated imprisonment of Ukrainian opposition figure and former Prime 
Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who has been incarcerated since August 2011.
  Mrs. Tymoshenko's case stands out as a significant illustration of 
Ukraine's backsliding with respect to human rights, democracy, and the 
rule of law since she was defeated by President Yanukovych in February 
2010. The United States, EU, and Canada have repeatedly expressed 
concerns about the application of selective justice against political 
opponents, their flawed trials, conditions of detention, and the denial 
of their ability to participate in last October's parliamentary 
elections.
  As Chairman of the Helsinki Commission, which has long been committed 
to Ukraine's independence and democratic development, I am especially 
mindful of Ukraine's 2013 OSCE chairmanship. Like any Chair-in-Office, 
Ukraine faces formidable tasks in leading a multilateral organization 
that operates on the basis of consensus, which includes 57 countries 
ranging from mature democracies to oppressive dictatorships. The United 
States wants Ukraine to succeed, but the reality is that the 
politically motivated imprisonment of Ms. Tymoshenko casts a cloud over 
its chairmanship. A Chair-in-Office must itself have strong democratic 
credentials if it is to succeed in encouraging reform in other 
countries.
  Furthermore, democratic regression in Ukraine has harmed U.S.-
Ukrainian bilateral relations, preventing a traditionally strong 
partnership from realizing its full potential. It has also slowed down 
the process of Ukraine's drawing closer to the EU, which is that 
country's stated foreign policy priority, manifested in the still-
delayed signing of the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. More than half 
a year has gone by since the unanimous adoption of S. Res. 466, calling 
for the release of Yulia Tymoshenko.
  The Ukrainian authorities now need to follow up on the important step 
they have taken in freeing Yuri Lutsenko. They need to free Ms. 
Tymoshenko and restore her civil and political rights. By demonstrating 
commitment to the rule of law and human rights principles embodied by 
the OSCE, Ukraine will strengthen the credibility of its chairmanship 
and show it is serious about being a full-fledged member of the 
democratic community of nations.
  I strongly urge the Ukrainian government to resolve the case of Ms. 
Tymoshenko.

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