Ukraine prosecutors decline to pursue testimonies in Tymoshenko case

Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Office announced on May 13 that it has concluded questioning witnesses in the 1996 murder of Donetsk businessman Yevhen Shcherban, for which imprisoned former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is being prosecuted. The reason cited is the failure of the governments of the Czech Republic and the U.S. to cooperate in the investigation in the desired timeframe. More specifically, these governments have yet to respond to requests to obtain testimonies from key witnesses that reside on their territory, such as Tymoshenko’s husband Oleksandr, who has sought asylum in the Czech Republic.

The prosecutors’ decision to cease inquiries doesn’t apply to a planned May 15 questioning of a key witness in the affair, Petro Kyrychenko, the Ukrayinska Pravda news site reported. It cited anonymous sources that the cessation in questionings is rooted in the Yanukovych administration’s desire to accommodate EU leaders and sign the Association Agreement in November.

Zenon Zawada: The decision by prosecutors to cease questionings can be interpreted as slightly encouraging news on the Association Agreement front. Yet it could also be the case that prosecutors have lost interest in the tiresome process of trying to extract testimonies from overseas witnesses and are using their decision as a pretext to earn political dividends. It’s revealing that questioning will proceed of Kyrychenko, who has already testified to Tymoshenko’s involvement in the murder, though the legitimacy of his claims have been challenged by Tymoshenko’s defense, which alleges they were made under duress.

On another positive note in the Ukraine-EU arena, reports surfaced on May 13 that the government and opposition have agreed to new parliamentary elections in those districts where results couldn’t be established in October. Additionally, Ukraine’s Ambassador to the EU Kostiantyn Yelisyeyev said on May 13 the Ukrainian government has achieved progress in eight of the 11 requirements set forth by the EU. We look forward to seeing EU leaders confirm that the alleged progress was made and is signifcant, which they have yet to do.