European Parliament Extends Mission On Tymoshenko Case

Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko

A European Parliament monitoring mission looking into the case of Ukraine's jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has been extended until mid-November.

The extension was announced Tuesday after the parliament's envoys, former parliament president Pat Cox and former Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski, briefed European lawmakers on their mission.

Tymoshenko was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2011 for abuse of office in a case widely seen as politically motivated.

EU governments have linked her release to the signing of an association and free trade agreement with Ukraine.

Ukraine hopes to sign the agreement at a November 28-29 summit in Vilnius.

Earlier on October 15, the EU Enlargement Commissioner Stefan Fuele said he expects Ukraine to allow Tymoshenko to travel to Germany for medical treatment before the Vilnius summit.