EU parliament chief slams action against Tymoshenko

EU Parliament president Jerzy Buzek accused Ukraine on Friday of "politically motivated" court action against former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko as EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton added her concern. After a court placed a handcuffed Tymoshenko under arrest in a dramatic twist to her stormy trial on charges of abuse of power while in office, a "disturbed" Buzek said the government in Kiev was falling foul of conditions in a partnership with the European Union. The prosecution had accused Tymoshenko of failing to take the trial seriously and mocking the judge and witnesses in a stream of comments on her Twitter account sent from her iPad inside the courtroom. "The context and conditions raise concern about the politically motivated nature of this decision, and about the application of the rule of law in Ukraine," said the former Polish prime minister and Solidarity activist. "I urge Ukraine to uphold the principles and common values that define our relationship and that form the core of the Eastern partnership," he added, referring to a deal covering aid, trade and cultural ties between the EU and eastern, former communist neighbours. Ashton, issuing a joint statement with enlargement commissioner Stefan Fuele, also said the events were "a cause for concern about the state of the rule of law in Ukraine." "We reiterate previous statements... on the high standards we expect from a country aspiring to political association with the EU. We urge Ukraine to uphold the principles."