The FINANCIAL — EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said she was deeply concerned at the adoption of a raft of laws curtailing fundamental rights in Ukraine, according to EU NEIGHBOURHOOD INFO CENTRE.
"I am deeply concerned by the events in Kyiv,” the EU High Representative said in a statement. “Several pieces of legislation restricting the Ukrainian citizens' fundamental rights have been hurriedly passed in an apparent disrespect of parliamentary procedures and democratic principles.”
“I am particularly concerned by the changes to the judicial code which impose worrying restrictions on the rights of assembly and on the freedom of speech and media, and are contrary to Ukraine's international obligations. The changes that seem to seriously curtail the activities of civil society organisations in Ukraine and simplify procedures for revocation of mandates of Members of Parliament are equally worrying.”
Calling on the Ukrainian President to ensure that these decisions are revised and brought in line with the country’s international commitments, Ashton said: “These regrettable developments come at a time of political crisis and do not contribute to building confidence and finding a political solution which can only happen through an inclusive dialogue with all stakeholders.”
Ashton’s comments come as EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood Policy Štefan Füle tweeted that he was “profoundly concerned by new legislation limiting freedoms, contradicting European aspirations & commitments from Association Agreement”.
Yesterday, the Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, Ambassador Jan Tombińskiissued a short statement on the Delegation’s website: “I am concerned about the way some laws were voted in parliament today. Norms should be adopted through proper procedures. Otherwise the credibility of democratic institutions and of the legal system is at stake.”
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