/Adopted%20Resolution%20Ukraine%2C%20GL2

YEPP Resolution: In Support of a Free and Democratic Ukraine Adopted at the YEPP Council Meeting in Lisbon, May 2012 Recognizing:  The current deteriorating level of democracy in Ukraine, progressive shrinking of democratic liberties, increasing level of violations of human rights and limitation of freedom of expression;  That the judicial system of Ukraine is currently providing a selective justice in accordance with the government;  That on November 17, 2011 the Ukranian Parliament adopted a new law “On election of members of the Parliament” which restricts the participation of new independent parties in parliamentary elections in October 2012;  The State Registration Service of Ukraine announced its intention not to recognize thze newly established political party “Denocratic Alliance”;  That Yulia Tymoshenko, head of the strongest opposition party, has been repeatedly put on trial and treated cruelly;  That the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine, iniciated in December 2011, can be ratified only when Ukraine’s Government stops the violation of human rights and abuse of judiciary power;  The aspieration of Ukrainian citizens to join the EU and avoid any fallback to an era of authoritarianism;

Acknowledging:  That politically motivated trials against opposition have been established soon after Yanukovic took power;  That according to the rule of law, the use of justice should be free from political orientation;  That EPP and its President, Wilfried Martens, as well as leaders of democratic world community,strongly condemned the court’s decision to sentence Julia Tymoshenko to jail: 1

 The need of a free and fair political confrontation, without any fear of government’s harassment;

YEPP calls on:

 The European political leaders to act in a spirit of solidarity when considering attendance at the soccer games hosted by Ukraine for the European Poland-Ukraine Cup 2012  the European Union and its Member States to enforce action to prevent non-democratic and illegal jeopardization of Ukrainia parties of the opposition;  the European Institutions to strengthen not to accept any violation of human rights carried out by Ukrainan Government;  The European Iinstitutions to implement personal sanctions against Ukrainian politicians and judges who are contributing to an authoritarian turn in Ukraine  the European Commission to initiate an urgent round of consultations with Ukraine’s Government on human rights, and to monitor closely the evolution of the internal situation;  the European Institutions do deploy shorterm and longterm observers during the next internal elections in Ukraine.  the Ukrainian Govenrment to stop the use of trials as a method of political harassment and as a way to silence the opposition immediately;  The Ukrainian goverment to change the exinstance law that allows political persons to be persucuted under criminal law for political decisions

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