Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant'
8th June 2012, 10:01
Maybe this belongs in Sports?
Not that informed on the political situation in Ukraine, but seems like a surprising move from the Foreign Office, quite an open and direct diplomatic snub.
Thoughts?
UK government ministers will boycott England's group games in the European football championships in Ukraine over the country's human rights record.
The UK is particularly concerned at the "selective justice" meted out to jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.
Other EU nations have also threatened a boycott of the tournament being jointly hosted with Poland.
Ukraine's ambassador to the UK said "sport and politics do not mix" and concerns must be raised in other ways.
Ms Tymoshenko played a key role in the Orange Revolution in 2004 and says her imprisonment, for alleged corruption, is an act of political revenge by Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych.
The authorities have rejected Ms Tymoshenko's allegations. She was jailed for seven years in October, for abuse of power during her time as prime minister.
Last week, she ended a 20-day hunger strike after being moved to a hospital in Kharkiv where she is being treated by a German doctor.
The UK Foreign Office said no officials would attend the three group games and it was keeping attendance at later stages of the tournament "under review in the light of ministers' busy schedules ahead of the Olympics and widespread concerns about selective justice and the rule of law in Ukraine".
(More at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18351326)
Not that informed on the political situation in Ukraine, but seems like a surprising move from the Foreign Office, quite an open and direct diplomatic snub.
Thoughts?
UK government ministers will boycott England's group games in the European football championships in Ukraine over the country's human rights record.
The UK is particularly concerned at the "selective justice" meted out to jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.
Other EU nations have also threatened a boycott of the tournament being jointly hosted with Poland.
Ukraine's ambassador to the UK said "sport and politics do not mix" and concerns must be raised in other ways.
Ms Tymoshenko played a key role in the Orange Revolution in 2004 and says her imprisonment, for alleged corruption, is an act of political revenge by Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych.
The authorities have rejected Ms Tymoshenko's allegations. She was jailed for seven years in October, for abuse of power during her time as prime minister.
Last week, she ended a 20-day hunger strike after being moved to a hospital in Kharkiv where she is being treated by a German doctor.
The UK Foreign Office said no officials would attend the three group games and it was keeping attendance at later stages of the tournament "under review in the light of ministers' busy schedules ahead of the Olympics and widespread concerns about selective justice and the rule of law in Ukraine".
(More at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18351326)