New York Times: Corruption in Kyiv and an EU Trade Pact
From Western capitals it’s far too easy to see the prosecution of the Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko as another example of post-Soviet repression. In reality, there are some serious questions surrounding her behavior in office over and above the usual corrupt practices of the region. Rather than directly challenging the prosecution, Washington and Brussels should insist on a greater commitment to rule-of-law standards in Kiev. Given that the European Union is in the process of negotiating a major trade deal with Ukraine, Brussels should be leveraging the Tymoshenko case to reinforce the rule of law there.
While questionable political and commercial practices are major problems across Ukrainian politics, the 2009 gas deal between Tymoshenko and Vladimir Putin was exceptional for the damage it did to Ukrainian interests. This was a deal that even Tymoshenko’s own cabinet refused to ratify along with the then head of the state energy company Naftogaz. It was only finally settled on her own authority.
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While questionable political and commercial practices are major problems across Ukrainian politics, the 2009 gas deal between Tymoshenko and Vladimir Putin was exceptional for the damage it did to Ukrainian interests. This was a deal that even Tymoshenko’s own cabinet refused to ratify along with the then head of the state energy company Naftogaz. It was only finally settled on her own authority.
Read more.
