EU Monitors Traveling To Kyiv Ahead Of Tymoshenko Appeal

Yulia Tymoshenko (file photo)

Former Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski and former EU Parliament President Pat Cox arrive in Ukraine on June 11 ahead of an appeals trial in the case of jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

Kwasniewski and Cox were designated last week by the European Parliament to serve as observers in the proceedings, which come amid mounting European criticism of Tymoshenko's seven-year sentence for abuse of office.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov has praised the mens' appointment, saying his country is open to "impartial monitoring" of Tymoshenko's June 26 appeal.

The Tymoshenko controversy has prompted government officials in several European countries to boycott all group-stage matches in the Euro 2012 soccer tournament being held in Ukraine.

Tymoshenko's daughter, Yevhenia, is set to meet German justice ministers on June 13 to discuss her mother's imprisonment.

Based on reporting by AFP, AP, and euractiv.com