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I refer the right hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister on 12 October 2011, Official Report, column 315. We have repeatedly and consistently told representatives of the Ukrainian Government that the way the trials against their political opponents, including Ms Tymoshenko, have been conducted belies their commitment to a closer relationship with the EU. The Deputy Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr Clegg), spoke directly to President Yanukovych during the Eastern Partnership summit in Warsaw on 29-30 September and told him that cases such as Tymoshenko's were a threat to UK parliamentary support for ratification of the Association Agreement and Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA). The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Richmond (Yorks) (Mr Hague), issued a press statement on 12 October 2011 expressing deep concern about the verdict and sentence.We continue to monitor the situation closely and to use every opportunity to urge the Ukrainian authorities to respect EU standards. |