Strasbourg, 7 April 2013 - Secretary General Thorbjørn Jagland welcomes the decision of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to pardon former minister Yuri Lutsenko:

"I welcome the decision of President Yanukovych to pardon former Ministers Lutsenko and Filipchuk as well as four other persons. It follows the spirit of the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights. I trust that Ukraine will also follow the judgment of the Court in the case of former Prime-Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. The Council of Europe will continue its co-operation with the Ukrainian authorities, providing assistance and expertise in the on-going reforms of the judiciary".

PACE President welcomes liberation of Yuri Lutsenko in Ukraine

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