Russia and West condemn Tymoshenko verdict

Moscow said it sees an anti-Russian subtext in the case of Tymoshenko who was sentenced to seven years in prison for "signing gas contracts" with Russia, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.

"As a matter of fact, Yulia Tymoshenko was prosecuted for the current, still valid, legally binding agreements between Gazprom and Naftogaz Ukraine," the ministry said.

It also warned that the verdict must not affect the implementation of bilateral gas agreements.

The verdict against Ukraine's ex-premier Yulia Tymoshenko proved that the case was politically motivated, a French Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.

Russian lawmakers, meanwhile, stressed that the verdict would in no way serve as an argument in Russian-Ukrainian discussions over gas prices.

"The verdict in the Tymoshenko case was pronounced within the framework of a procedure that clearly ignored the defendant's rights. This confirms that the prosecution of Tymoshenko and her government members is politically motivated," French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said.

He reiterated his country's concern about "the degradation of the rule of law in Ukraine."

The European Union earlier said that if Tymoshenko goes to jail Europe may suspend negotiations on the bilateral agreement on association and free-trade zone, which Ukraine hopes to sign by year-end.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych acknowledged that the verdict would hamper European integration.

"Undoubtedly, this is a regrettable case, which hampers Ukraine's European integration at present," the Ukrainian leader said. "Naturally, the verdict complied with Ukraine's current Criminal Code, but this ruling is not final. The case is yet to be heard in the Court of Appeal"; Kazinform cites RIA Novosti.

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