Editor's Note: The following is the official English-language translation of imprisoned ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's New Year's message to Ukraine.
The message can be found on Yulia Tymoshenko’s website
My dear ones!
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
These holidays are everyone’s favorite because on these days, like when we were children, we wait for a miracle and happy moments!
Usually on New Year we look back on the past year, set plans for the future and make wishes.
If we look back, then we must mention the failures.
The failure to sign the association agreement with the EU was the failure of the year, and stopped Ukraine on its path to joining the European family. But I have faith that this age-old dream of millions of Ukrainians will soon come true, as will my wish for a democratic government with a human face and morality.
The achievement of the past year and decade was undoubtedly EuroMaidan, which restored the Ukrainian people’s faith in their own strength, united decent and patriotic people who are defending the future of their children and their country, put Ukraine on the front page, and made Ukrainians a people admired around the world.
And now for wishes. I wish I could ring in the New Year with the people defending our independence and protecting democracy and European values on the peaceful barricades of EuroMaidan, where a new elite of the country has been born. I am with you heart and soul! I know that one day we will sing the anthem together on our victorious Maidan!
I hope this year brings not only challenges but numerous victories. And so I ask you all, my dear ones, to start 2014 with faith and understanding that it will be a victorious year!
Ukraine and the Ukrainian people deserve a better fate and next year will bring luck to us all. I know that 2014 will be the start of the cleansing of Ukraine from dictatorship and tyranny – it will become the year of free Ukrainians!
I wish you, your families, friends, children, parents and spouses, and absolutely everyone – love, health and prosperity!
Good luck and may God bless you and yours! I wish you all the best!
Happy holidays!
Yulia Tymoshenko
Kachanivska prison,
Kharkiv
