Some of Ukraine’s religious leaders have written
letters to the country’s president, Viktor Ianukovich, asking for the
release of the leader of the main opposition party, Iulia Tymoshenko.
Appeals were sent by the leader of the Ukrainian Orthodox, Patriarch Filaret, the leader of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk and the Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archbishop of Leopoli, Mecislav Mokshitskii, among others.
The religious leaders stressed that Tymoshenko’s release was important for Ukraine’s European future.
The arrest of the former prime minister is one of the obstacles hindering the signing of an association agreement between the Ukraine and the EU.
The agreement could be signed in Vilnius at the end of November.
According to the religious leaders, millions of faithful want the Ukraine to join the EU and granting the “gas princess” a pardon - Patriarch Filaret wrote – or at least giving her the chance to receive treatment abroad is a determining factor for the Ukraine’s future EU membership.”
The Russian Orthodox Church did not send an appeal for Tymoshenko’s release. Although the Church has a wide following in the Ukraine, it also has close ties to the Kremlin.