The Ukrainian parliament did not surprise anyone. Recently it approved by 270 votes in the first reading the proposal of the Party of Region MP Ivan Popesku on the fulfilment of the PACE resolution. The opposition’s resolution drafted by the BYuT MP Oleh Bilorus failed to win the required support. As it was expected, the Party of Region’s document lacks the PACE’s key demands to decriminalize Articles 264 and 365 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, by which Yulia Tymoshenko and Yurii Lutsenko were convicted, and allow them to take part in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
“It is whitewash,” says Olha HERASYMIUK, Member of Parliament and Deputy Chairperson of the Permanent Delegation to the PACE. “The author of this resolution, the head of our delegation to the PACE, always tries to find some pretexts and persuade the Europeans, on behalf of his comrades, that Ukraine does not need to fulfill its pledges to the Council of Europe. He misleads audiences, saying that we are almost on the point of having the monitoring lifted, which is very far from the truth, especially in the light of the latest developments around Ukraine. All this is reflected in the PACE hearings, resolutions, and special statements which express concern over the state of democracy in Ukraine. Just two weeks ago we received a new complaint from the Europeans that the plight of the imprisoned opposition politicians had worsened, to which our pro-governmental MPs gave evasive responses, referring to the GRECO [Council of Europe Group of States against Corruption. – Ed.] chairman. The latter even had to issue a denial. The same author of today’s resolution shows failure to understand European standards. He says: let Europe explain to us what it means and we will be fulfilling the [PACE] resolution. They use different kinds of rhetoric at home and in Europe. They want to use their resolution as a fig leaf to cover up the absence of any actions to fulfill the [PACE] resolution. So, formally, they passed a resolution but, essentially, the latter is about nothing.”
What consequences can this have?
“Some Monitoring Committee reporters are arriving on Monday to analyze the situation. Of course, they will be reporting on this at committee and PACE sessions in April. The Europeans are accustomed to hearing from the Ukrainian leadership the words that imply no deeds. The committee is now openly saying this. I think our leadership is making a serious mistake: instead of seeking the ways to meet the commitments to the Council of Europe, they are pondering how to cheat the European community. It is nothing but self-deception that undermines the foundations of our statehood. Those who are doing so will sooner or later be hoisted with their own petards.”
To what extent is it possible that sanctions will be applied against Ukraine?
“The point is they are no longer joking with Ukraine – not because they have taken a bad attitude to it but because they need a democratic Ukraine. If we take into account that there are no supporters of Yanukovych’s policy in Europe even among the Socialists who are friends of the Party of Regions, we will see that it is no laughing matter. We are not Russia which they are afraid of due to oil and gas. We are part of Europe which should not look like Belarus. Our nation does not deserve to get a raw deal. Many Europeans are supporting Ukraine’s democratic development, and they want us to retake the path which society chose when it was making the Orange Revolution. If the situation in Ukraine is not going to change, we will face sanctions. Much to our regret, the leadership is deliberately putting Ukraine to shame. But it does not take into account that Ukrainian society is free enough now.”
Do you think the current leadership has a sense of reality? In other words, where is the limit which they are sure not to cross?
“There was a scandal last week, involving the Party of Regions MP Melnyk who not only insulted a lady but showed absence of any moral criteria and values. What is more, the leadership’s reaction to this shows that he is not one of the kind – they are all like this. The impression is the current leadership is concerned about their personal interests only and has nothing to do with public administration. Frankly speaking, I cannot imagine what history manuals will write about the current leadership. I cannot see the point of no return for this leadership. All I can see is that they are preparing a catastrophe for themselves.”
