In 2012 and 2013 the European Court of Human Rights announced two verdicts, dealing with important cases in Ukraine. They both concerned the leading Ukrainian politicians, that is Yuliya Tymoshenko and Yuriy Lutsenko. Y. Tymoshenko is the leader of the Batkivshchyna political party and of Yulia Tymoshenko’s Bloc. From 18 December 2007 to 3 March 2010, she held the position of Prime Minister of Ukraine. Y. Lutsenko, during the period from 18 December 2007 to 29 January 2010 was Minister of the Interior and the leader of the opposition party Narodna Samooborona. They were accused of abuse of power during their terms in office. The circumstances of the two cases are similar. Both applicants argued that their arrest and detention had been politically motivated and unlawful. In light of the cooperation between Ukraine and the EU, as well as the advancement as a democratic state, these judgements are very important. Significantly, the local and international observers concluded that their conviction was an element of political play. The Court ruled that the Ukrainian authorities violated the article 5 of the European Convention of Human Rights.
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