UKRAINE-USA-TYMOSHENKO-STATEMENT

Kyiv, May 14 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The government of the United States has called on the Ukrainian authorities to release former Ukrainian Premier Yulia Tymoshenko and other ex-officials of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, as well as restore their civil and political rights.

“The U.S. Government continues to call for Mrs. Tymoshenko’s release, the release of other members of her former government and the restoration of their full civil and political rights,” reads a statement of the U.S. government on the Web site of the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine on Monday to sum up the results of a visit of its representatives to a Kharkiv hospital, where Tymoshenko is undergoing treatment.

“The United States Government continues to be deeply concerned by the treatment of Mrs. Tymoshenko and the conditions of her confinement,” reads the statement.

“We continue to urge the Ukrainian authorities to ensure that Mrs. Tymoshenko receives appropriate medical assistance. Moving her to the hospital for treatment by a specialist is a welcome first step in this direction,” according to the statement.

The U.S. government also welcomed the Ukrainian government’s decision to grant Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s request that the U.S. Ambassador be given access to her.

As reported, on Monday, May 14, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John F. Tefft and U.S. Assistant Deputy Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor Thomas O. Melia visited Tymoshenko at the hospital.

The ambassador told reporters that the United States’ position on the case of Yulia Tymoshenko remained unchanged and that selective justice is unacceptable.

[UA EUROPE EEU EMRG US]

ZA

20:08:59 EET-2