European Football Championship Euro 2012 will be boycotted, as announced a month ago, by the governments of several European countries that have decided to protest against the conditions of imprisonment of former Prime Minister of Ukraine, Yulia Tymoshenko.
Yulia Tymoshenko, in jail since the summer of 2011, was sentenced to seven years in prison for abuse of power. She is accused of signing, at the time when she was prime minister, a gas contract with Russia, which would have been disadvantageous for Ukraine. In April, she reported that the guards abused her and as a result she has problems with the spine. Ukrainian authorities have denied any wrongdoing, and prosecutors said that the bruises on the body shown in photos that were released to the press could have occured accidentally.
If some countries have considered that boycotting European Soccer Championship will not solve the problem of Yulia Tymoshenko, politicians from several Western countries have announced clearly that they don’t plan to attend.
France: Paris government has already informed Kiev and Warsaw that will not go to Euro 2012 games. Earlier, President Francois Hollande suggested that he will not go to Ukraine because, “although I love soccer, what is happening in Ukraine is a problem.”
Germany: the first statements came from Berlin, where German President Joachim Gauck refused the official invitation to go to Ukraine. Chancellor Angela Merkel said that she will not go to Euro 2012, unless the leader of the “Orange Revolution” is released.
United Kingdom: The Office in London announced that “no member of the government will go to Euro2012, under any circumstances”. Also, Prince William and Prince Harry will not attend the event hosted by Ukraine.
Italy: Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi said that he is following with concern the situation in Ukraine, but did not specify if he will go to the sporting event.
Netherlands: decided from the beginning that no politician will go to the championship in Ukraine.
Spain: Madrid government decided to band together with most Western countries and not send any representatives.
Austria: in a sign of solidarity with Tymoshenko, Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger said that the sporting event will be boycotted.
Belgium: Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders joined his colleagues, announcing that he will not go to Kiev.
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