Has Ukraine gone back to the days of "Show Trials"

[Aardvark154]

Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has been sentenced to seven years imprisonment for ‘abuse of office’ involving a major gas contract with Russia.

This very much appears to be the work of her political rival and the current President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, who narrowly defeated her in last year's presidential election.

Even Russia joined the EU and the U.S.A. in condeming the verdict.


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...ine-PM-guilty-abuse-office.html#ixzz1aWuiCrtD

 

[CapitalGuy]

One of the most appalling miscarriages of justice to come out of the the (quasi) Western world in years. Shocking, in fact. It is a dark day for Ukraine, who may well follow Belarus into isolation and, to an extent, despair. Timo has her faults, some of them significant, but this is mere political 'murder', the convenient removal of an otherwise legitimate opponent. It will be interesting to watch the local reactions - will the streets fill with protestors demanding her release? Demanding the government step down? How would Yanu react to that? Or will this fizzle away? They are still a mere generation removed from the Communist Party's darker rule; are democracy and political legitimacy mature enough in Ukraine, to survive this takeover?

 

[alexmst]

Looks like they have, yes.