US State Department Statement on Yulia Tymoshenko

Former Ukraine Prime Minister Tymoshenko has been imprisoned by the government of the Ukraine on abuses of power charges.  The State Department issued a statement today, raising concern over Tymoshenko's imprisonment and human rights abuses against her.
 
Germany has been in the forefront of criticizing the Ukrainian government, threatening a boycott of it Ministers of the European Championships EURO 2012. The President of the German soccer club FC Bayern Muenchen has also called for the players of the German national side to speak out on the issue.  Germany will be based in the Ukraine during the group stage of the tournament.

The Human Rights Ombudsman has released pictures of Yulia Tomyshenko, which would indicate that she has also been physically abused.

Tymoshenko is serving a seven year sentence of abuse of power charges, based on an energy deal with Russia.  Western countries have condemned the charges and threatened to freeze cooperation with the Ukraine.  Tymoshenko has been on hunger strike for the last ten days to protest alleged abuse in Kharkiv prison.  Kharkiv is one of the venues during EURO 2012, the European Soccer championship, hosted by Poland and the Ukraine.

Little media coverage has been given to this issue in North American media.  It's good to see the United States speak out on this issue.


Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued the following statement on the treatment of Yulia Tymoshenko


The United States is deeply concerned by the treatment of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and other imprisoned members of her former government. The photographs of Mrs. Tymoshenko released by the Ukrainian Human Rights Ombudsman further call into question the conditions of her confinement. We urge the Ukrainian authorities to ensure that Mrs. Tymoshenko receives immediate medical assistance in an appropriate facility and request that the U.S. Ambassador be given access to her. We continue to call for her release, the release of other members of her former government and the restoration of their full civil and political rights.

Related Stories:

Euro 2012 has become a political football in Germany

Ukraine Considers German Threat to Boycott Euro 2012  Cold War Methods  

Ukraine Considers German Threat Euro 2012 Boycott Cold War Method

The Ukrainian Ministry of External Affairs has reacted angrily to media reports that indicated that German Chancellor Angela Merkel is initiating a boycott of the European Soccer Championship, Euro 2012.  The Ministry likened the boycott to "Cold War" methods, which use sport as a hostage.

Media reports in "Der Spiegel" yesterday indicated that German Chancellor Angela Merkel recommended to her Ministers not to visit the Ukraine during the Euro 2012 championship.  The boycott is to protest the continued incarceration and alleged human rights abuses against former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

Communications Director, Oleg Woloschin, for the External Affairs Ministry said that the couldn't imagine that Germany's public figures would apply methods of the Cold War and attempting to use sport as a hostage for politics.

"The External Affairs Ministry hopes that the information distributed by German media, in which Chancellor Angela Merkel, apparently called for a political boycott of Euro 2012, related to the imprisonment of ex Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, turn out to be false, Woloshin said.

While most Western nations have voiced their displeasure with the Ukrainian government over the handling and imprisonment of the former Prime Minister, Germany has been the most vocal.  Yesterday FC Bayern President, Uli Hoeness, called for players of the German national side to speak out on the issue.

Bayern boss Uli Hoeness said that he trusts the players to be smart enough to have an opinion on the issue.  He said he would have respect for every player that takes a stand on this issue.   One of Bayern's players, Anatoliy Tymoshchuk (Анатолій Тимощук) will be appearing as part of the Ukrainian team.

Hoeness has also called on the President of UEFA, Michel Platini, to take a tough stand against the regime in the Ukraine.

"I sincerely hope that Mr. Platini, clearly voices his opinion in the right places.

Newly elected German President, Joachim Gauck, a human rights advocate, has cancelled a trip to EURO 2012 to protest the incarceration conditions of Yulia Tymoshenko.

A Ukraine Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday that at least five EU heads of state would not be attending a  May 11-12 Yalta summit meeting of Central and Eastern European leaders.  The countries in question are the Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Italy and Slovenia.  The Ministry downplayed that this had anything to do with the imprisonment of Tymoshenko.

Tymoshenko is serving a seven year sentence of abuse of power charges, based on an energy deal with Russia.  Western countries have condemned the charges and threatened to freeze cooperation with the Ukraine.  Tymoshenko has been on hunger strike for the last ten days to protest alleged abuse in Kharkiv prison.  Kharkiv is one of the venues during EURO 2012, the European Soccer championship, hosted by Poland and the Ukraine.

The Ukraine is a signatory of the "European Convention of Human Rights," and as such is expected to clear up the situation of prisoners within the letter of the law. 

Euro 2012 will kick off on the 8th of June and run through to July 1st.  The Ukraine and Poland are co-hosts of the tournament, only second to the World Cup. 

EURO 2012 Has Become a Political Football in Germany

FC Bayern President Uli Hoeness has called on player of Germany's National side to speak out on the human rights abuses by the regime in the Ukraine.  The German Environment Minister Norbert Roettgen has called on European governments to boycott the matches in the Ukraine to protest the incarceration of fomer Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

Tymoshenko is serving a seven year sentence of abuse of power charges, based on an energy deal with Russia.  Western countries have condemned the charges and threatened to freeze cooperation with the Ukraine.  Tymoshenko has been on hunger strike for the last ten days to protest alleged abuse in Kharkiv prison.  Kharkiv is one of the venues during EURO 2012, the European Soccer championship, hosted by Poland and the Ukraine.

The first game scheduled in Kharkiv will be on June 9th when the Netherlands meets Denmark.  The match between the The Netherlands and Germany is scheduled to take place on June 13th, which would require at the minimum the German Minister of Sports to attend.

Bayern boss Uli Hoeness said that he trusts the players to be smart enough to have an opinion on the issue.  He said he would have respect for every player that takes a stand on this issue.   One of Bayern's players, Anatoliy Tymoshchuk (Анатолій Тимощук) will be appearing as part of the Ukrainian team.

Hoeness has also called on the President of UEFA, Michel Platini, to take a tough stand against the regime in the Ukraine.

"I sincerely hope that Mr. Platini, clearly voices his opinion in the right places.

The newly elected German President, Joachim Gauck, a human rights advocate, has cancelled a trip to EURO 2012 to protest the incarceration conditions of Yulia Tymoshenko.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said if the former Ukrainian PM should still be incarcerated during the Euro 12 competition, she would recommend that any of her Ministers would not be attend the games in the Ukraine.  She has made an exception for her Sports Minister,  Interior Minister  Hans-Peter Friedrich.  Friedrich has said he would go to the Kharkiv on the condition that he could meet with Yulia Tymoshenko beforehand.

Germany's stance on this issue is the right one, the remaining countries involved in this competition should also exert pressure on the Ukrainian government to stop this abuse of human rights.

Kudos to Uli Hoeness, the Bayern boss for addressing this issue and encouraging his players to speak out.  One of Bayern's players, Anatolyi Tymoschuk will be representing the Ukrainian national side.  

EURO 2012 Schedule

UEFA has released the Euro 2012 schedule after completing its draw yesterday.  With number 2 placed Netherlands and third placed Germany in Group B, the general consensus is that Group B is the toughest group, while Group A is the easiest.

Group A               Group B                   Group C             Group D

Poland                    Netherlands             Spain                    Ukraine
Greece                    Denmark                 Italy                      Sweden
Czech Republic      Germany                 Rep of Ireland      France
Russia                     Portugal                  Croatia                 England



The opening game of Euro 2012 will be played in Warsaw, Poland and features Group A with co-host Poland meeting Greece on June 8th 2012.  The final will take place in a brand new world class stadium in Kiev, Ukraine.  Ukraine is co-host of the championship.

Spain, the reigning European champion and World champion is widely seen as the favourite for this tournament.  Spain is in Group C along with Italy the Republic of Ireland and Croatia.  England, in Group C will not have a breeze through with Sweden and France in the group.

Below is the tournament schedule confirmed by UEFA (all times CET):

Friday June 8th

Game 1 Poland vs Greece        18:00   Warsaw
Game 2 Russia vs Czech Rep  20:45    Wroclaw

Saturday June 9th

Game 3 - Netherlands vs Denmark 18:00 Kharkiv
Game 4 - Germany vs Portugal       20:45 Lviv

Sunday June 10th

Game 5 - Spain vs Italy           18:00 Gdansk
Game 6 - Ireland vs Croatia    20:45 Poznan

Monday June 11th

Game 7 - France vs England    18:00  Donetsk
Game 8 - Ukraine vs Sweden   20:45  Kiev


Tuesday June 12th

Game 9 - Greece vs  Czech Rep  18:00 Wroclaw
Game 10 - Poland vs Russia        20:45 Warsaw

Wednesday June 13th

Game 11 - Denmark vs Portugal        18:00 Lviv
Game 12 - Netherlands vs Germany  20:45 Kharkiv


 Thursday June 14th

Game 13 - Italy vs Croatia                 18:00 Poznan
Game 14 - Spain vs Ireland                20:45 Gdansk

Friday June 15th

Game 15 - Sweden vs England            20:45 Kiev
Game 16 - Ukraine vs France             18:00 Donetsk


Saturday June 16th

Game 17 - Czech Rep vs Poland        20:45 Wroclaw
Game 18 - Greece vs Russia              20:45 Warsaw

Sunday June 17th

Game 19 - Portugal vs Netherlands   20:45 Kharkiv
Game 20 - Denmark vs Germany      20:45 Lviv

Monday June 18th

Game 21 - Croatia vs Spain               20:45 Gdansk
Game 22 - Italy vs Rep Ireland          20:45 Poznan

Tuesday June 19th

Game 23 - England vs Ukraine          20:45 Donetsk
Game 24 - Sweden vs France             20:45 Kiev

Wednesday June 21st is a day off from the schedule as teams prepare for the knock-out stage of the tournament.   The top two teams in each group advance to the quarter final.

Quarter Final:

Thursday June 21st

Game 25 - Winner Group A vs 2nd Group B     20:45  Warsaw

Friday June 22nd

Game 26 - Winner Group B vs 2nd Group A    20:45  Gdansk


Saturday June 23rd

Game 27 - Winner Group C vs 2nd Group D     20:45 Donetsk

Sunday June 24th

Game 28 - Winner Group D vs 2nd Group C     20:45 Kiev

Monday June 25th  and Tuesday June 26th are game free as teams prepare for the semi-final match ups.

Semi- Finals:

Wednesday June 27th

Game 29 - Winner Game 25 vs Winner Game 27 - 20:45 Donetsk

Thursday June 28th

Game 30 - Winner Game 26 vs Winner Game 28 - 20:45 Warsaw


Final

Sunday July 1st

Game 31 - Winner Game 29 vs Winner Game 30  20:45 Kiev

Germany's National Side 3-3 Draw in Friendly Against Ukraine

Just under 70,000 spectators cheered on the Ukraine in the new stadium in Kiev, as the Ukrainian side took and early lead against Germany's DFB Team "Die Mannschaft".  Eventually the German side managed a 3-3 draw after 3-1 deficit in the first half.

Jogi Loew, the German side's coach had a dilemma for this friendly.  His midfield director, Bastian Schweinsteiger, is out, due to a broken collar bone, at least until aft the Christmas break.  Lahm, team captain and Manuel Neuer were given well deserved rests and Miroslav Klose was also out due to injury.  The game gave Loew the opportunity to experiment with the team.

Andriy Yarmolenko opened the scoring for the Ukraine in the 28th minute. The second Ukrainian goal came just nine minutes later when German defender Mat Hummels lost possession just outside the Ukrainian penalty area and a 70 meter counter Yevhen Konoplianka resulted in the Ukraine's second goal.  The surprise was complete.

Toni Kroos, who played an impressive game, despite the absence of Lahm, Mueller and Schweinsteiger, narrowed the score to 2-1 in the 39th minute, restoring hope for the German side.  
However the Ukrainian side was not deterred.  Zieler had to reach behind him for third time, in his national side debut, when Serhiy Nazarenko, took a precise pass from Shevchenko and put a curling shot into the net from just outside the 16 metre area, one minute into extra time.

The second half started with a 3-1 deficit for the German side.  Loew substituted Rolfes and Schuerrle into the game, however he stuck withe the first half formation with three defenders.  Early in the second half Shevchenko almost put the game out of reach for the German side, when he just fired wide of the German net.

Twenty minutes into the second half Rolfes narrowed the score to 3-2 and Loew reenforced his attack by bringing Thomas Mueller and Lukas Podolski on the field.  Mueller did not disappoint and got the equalizer in the 78th minute with a shot well out from the lefts side, putting the ball just inside the right goal post.

While many errors were made by the German side, the comeback showed the class of the German side, which was able to bounce back and at least equalize. Zieler's debut was a little disappointing for him personally, but it takes a whole team to defend.  He made several good safes in the second half.  The German defence, at times, seemed like an open book, permitting quick counters by the Ukraine.

While the back three played relatively well, they were often too far forward and caught off guard by the quick counters.  Two of the Ukraine goals were achieved after corner kicks.

Germany, rated third in World soccer, meets the Netherlands, rated second, on Tuesday.  Juergen Loew is sure to make some changes and will in all likelihood go back to a 4-4-2 system. Miroslav Klose may be available and Manuel Neuer should be back in the net.  Mueller, Kroos, Gotze and Ozil are sure to feed the strikers, Gomez and Klose.