France summons Ukraine ambassador over Tymoshenko case

Updated: 2011-08-11 21:36

(Xinhua)

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PARIS - The French Foreign Ministry has summoned Ukaine ambassador in Paris to voice concerns over the arrest of Ukaine's former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, a ministry deputy spokeswoman said Thursday.

Ambassador Olexandre Kupchyshyn has been convened to the French ministry and was told France's "preoccupation" for the detention of Tymoshenko and development of her trial in Ukaine, Christine Fages said in a regular press briefing.

The spokeswoman said France would monitor Tymoshenko's case closely with the respect for Unkaine law.

France and the European Union have voiced against Ukraine authority arresting the former female prime minister on the charge of abuse of power.

In a statement issued last Friday, the French Foreign Ministry said "we question the motives of the trial it is made. In particular, the rights of the defense does not seem assured."

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych said Thursday he would stand away from intervening Tymoshenko case and leave the court do its job independently.

The Ukrainian prosecution accused Tymoshenko, who was arrested on Friday, of abusing her power by signing a natural gas contract with Russia in 2009 and consequently causing a loss of 190 million US dollars to Ukraine.

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