The conviction of the former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko was politically motivated and the case should be reviewed, White House spokesperson Jay Carney said on Tuesday.
Kiev's Pechersky District Court sentenced Tymoshenko to seven years in prison for abuse of office over her signing of a gas deal with Russia in 2009.
"The United States is deeply disappointed with the conviction and sentencing of former Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko through a politically motivated prosecution. The charges against Tymoshenko and the conduct of her trial, as well as the prosecution of other opposition leaders and members of the preceding government, have raised serious concerns about the Government of Ukraine's commitment to democracy and rule of law," he said in a statement.
He urged the Ukrainian authorities to release Tymoshenko, other political leaders and former government officials and believed "that they should have an unrestricted ability to participate fully in political life, including next year's parliamentary elections."
"The United States strongly supports the Ukrainian peoples' goal of becoming a democratic and prosperous European state, and remains dedicated to strengthening bilateral cooperation based on shared values and shared interests," Carney said.
