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Ukraine's Tymoshenko Launches Hunger Strike

November 25, 2013
by RFE/RL

Jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has launched a hunger strike in solidarity with Ukrainian protesters rallying in Kyiv for closer ties with the European Union.

Thousands of pro-EU demonstrators on November 25 urged President Viktor Yanukovych to sign a political and trade agreement with the bloc, clashing with police for a second day.

In a message to protesters, Tymoshenko said, 'As a sign of unity with you I declare an unlimited hunger strike with the demand to Yanukovych to sign the association agreement.'

Meanwhile, European Union President Herman Van Rompuy and European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso issued a joint statement in Brussels saying, 'It is up to Ukraine to freely decide what kind of engagement they seek with the European Union.'

The statement added, 'We therefore strongly disapprove of the Russian position and actions.'

The statement, which was read out by EU Commission spokeswoman Pia Ahrenkilde, also said the deal was 'still on the table,' and urged Ukraine not to cave in to pressure.

'While being aware of the external pressure that Ukraine is experiencing, we believe that short-term considerations should not override the long-term benefits that this partnership would bring,' Ahrenkilde said.

Russia wants Ukraine to join its own Customs Union with Belarus and Kazakhstan.

Kyiv Clashes

Protesters in Kyiv want President Viktor Yanukovych to reverse course and sign the association agreement with the EU at a summit in Vilnius this week.

Addressing the rally, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, head of the opposition Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) faction, said: 'Our task, by the 29th [of November], is to not let [them] destroy our dream, destroy the expectations of millions of Ukrainians, the hopes for a better and brighter European future. This is the demand of the Ukrainian people.'

Early on November 25, some protesters threw objects at the police guarding the government seat and police responded with tear gas.

Protest leaders said the attempted storming of the government building -- for the second time in two days -- was the work of outside troublemakers.

Meanwhile, Yanukovych said on November 25 in a televised address that the decision to suspend moves to sign the agreement had been a difficult one to make, and was forced by economic necessity. But Yanukovych said that there was no alternative but to create 'a society of European standards' in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara said Yanukovych still planned to attend the Vilnius summit, stressing Ukraine was postponing -- not cancelling -- integration talks.

Kozhara's statement came after Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said Kyiv might sign an Association Agreement with the European Union at an EU-Ukraine summit early next year.

With reporting by AFP, Interfax, ITAR-TASS, RIA Novosti, and Reuters

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/ukraine-eu- russia-azarov/25178873.html

Copyright (c) 2013. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.