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Party of Regions finds Timoshenko abroad curing debates unneeded

Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office stated that the abroad treatment of the convicts is not envisaged in the Ukrainian legislation

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

KIEV, May 17 (Itar-Tass) — The head of the Party of Regions faction in the Ukrainian parliament Alexander Yefremov finds it unnecessary to debate urgently a bill, which would permit a convict Yulia Timoshenko to take a treatment course abroad. Yefremov has made a statement at a press briefing here on Thursday.

“The debates on this document are possible, if such need really emerges. But there are no problems with this today,” Yefremov said.

People, who are being kept at the detention centre in a Ukrainian city, filed applications that they want to be treated at the German clinic Charite. “Therefore, if some country provides an opportunity, so that 300,000 arrested would be treated, we will be ready to debate this document,” the head of the faction said.

On May 15, the Verkhovna Rada Committee for Legal Policy approved the bill, which allows for sending the convicts to the hospitals in other countries. “In theory, if someone is interested for this bill to be approved, it can be considered on Thursday,” a deputy Taras Chornovil told reporters on Thursday. “The issue can be really considered to give an opportunity to Yulia Timoshenko to go abroad for a treatment course,” Chornovil assumed, adding that the bill can be considered so quickly, “when there is a very serious request from the authorities.”

German politicians and public figures offered many times to treat Yulia Timoshenko at the Berlin clinic Charite. Russia and Switzerland also stated that the countries are ready to treat the Ukrainian former prime minister, who serves a seven-year term in prison now.

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office stated that the abroad treatment of the convicts, including the former premier Timoshenko, is not envisaged in the Ukrainian legislation.

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