PACE disappointed with Vlasenko removal from parliament

Co-rapporteurs of the monitoring committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) released a March 7 statement expressing their “deep concern and disappointment” with the court ruling removing the parliamentary mandate of Serhiy Vlasenko, the lead defense attorney of opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko. “It creates the impression that Vlasenko is being punished for his political union and legal counsel to the imprisoned former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko,” the statement said. The statement also raised concern that Vlasenko was forbidden by the government to travel to a PACE plenary session in Strasbourg in late January.