The shadow of Yulia Tymoshenko on the flat organization in Ukraine for Euro 2012

Under the title "Blood and games ", the German newspaper Bild questioned, Friday, April 27:" Who dares to even attend the Euro 2012 in Ukraine ? "Violations of human rights committed in the country who must, with Poland , organize , from June 8 to July 1, the championship of Europe of soccer concerned, both in Berlin and in other capitals. So much so that German Chancellor Angela Merkel, however fervent supporter of the Mannschaft, could not attend the services of his team. Steffen Seibert, his spokesman, said his decision was "not taken".

The German has, at least, shown the importance it attaches to the fate of the main opponent of President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych, former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who is serving seven years in prison for abuse of power .

Thursday, Berlin announced that the new president Joachim Gauck , renounced to go to Yalta to meet as scheduled with his counterpart. Mr. Gauck has made the defense of the freedoms the axis of his presidency. Other prominent German reluctance, but rather seem to want to use the presence of media in Ukraine to denounce the abuses of the regime.

In Brussels, the Commissioner for Justice , Viviane Reding, wrote on 25 April, Michel Platini, president of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), organizer of the Euro, for him to say it will not make the opening ceremony in Warsaw, June 8 In her letter, Ms. Reding talks about "institutional reasons" prevented his presence. A council of ministers of justice must take 8 June, in Luxembourg.

"Selective Justice"

In its letter, the Vice-President of the Commission, however, expressed his "personal concerns" about human rights in Ukraine and especially the "plight" of Yulia Tymoshenko , who was ill, said to have been struck by his guards and started this week a hunger strike.

"Selective justice, biased, should not be accepted and I hope you enjoy this great moment that is Euro 2012 for relaying the values ​​we hold both, "said Commissioner Luxembourg to Michel Platini .

In an interview with German daily Die Welt , the latter replied on Saturday, when the Euro was awarded in 2007, Ms. Tymoshenko ascended to power . "It's hard when things politics is unstable, "fell President of UEFA. "What should we do ? Do not assign the Euro to countries such as Ukraine because everything is not as stable as in Western democracies? This is not the solution "he concluded.

Two Green MEPs, Daniel Cohn-Bendit and Rebecca Harms , not only from this position. In a letter Friday to the former champion, they demanded an official statement from UEFA and national associations against " climate policy untenable "in Ukraine before the opening of the Euro.

In Brussels, Ms. Reding colleagues seem to have been taken aback by his initiative uncoordinated. Androulla Vassiliou, Commissioner for Youth and Sports, also examined the question of its possible presence at the opening ceremony but especially at the close of the event in Kiev. The Commission is in fact seeking a way to condemn without Kiev to Warsaw in trouble.

Third speaker, Catherine Ashton , head of European diplomacy and also Vice President of the Commission, spoke on Thursday its "deep concern" about the fate of Ms. Tymoshenko and demanded that the ambassador of the European Union to Kiev could he go visit. The bloc could, alternatively, put into question a bilateral free trade agreement with Ukraine in March.

Two German doctors were allowed to examine Ms. Tymoshenko on Thursday. One of them felt that it was "bad psychological condition and physical . " So far, Mr. Yanukovich has made ​​another gesture that acceptance of a survey designed to determine if the opponent has been brutalized.