Ukrainian prime minister Mykola Azarov has agreed to let EU medical and legal experts visit jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko and study her case, while lambasting critics of his country and bemoaning the state of relations between Kiev and Brussels.
Mykola Azarov has denounced suggestions from EU leaders that they might boycott Euro 2012 football matches in Ukraine next month in protest at its treatment of Ms Tymoshenko (51), who was jailed for seven years last October for abusing her power when she was prime minister.
The EU says the cases against her and several allies are politically motivated. Ms Tymoshenko is recovering after ending a hunger strike. Under the supervision of German doctors, she is also due to receive therapy for painful back problems. Ukraine says she has not been mistreated.
“This is an agreement between Mr Azarov and me. This is a real step forward in building mutual trust,” said Martin Schulz, the president of the European Parliament.
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