Tymoshenko should not be wary of Lazarenko’s return to Ukraine, says president’s office deputy head

September30200820:13

President’s office deputy head Andryj Kyslynsky says he was surprised by the frantic reaction of BYUT and Yulia Tymoshenko to media reports about the likely return to Ukraine of ex-Premier Pavlo Lazarenko, Tymoshenko’s former boss. “If Yulia Tymoshenko believes she was no party to Pavlo Lazarenko dubious deals, she has nothing to fear,” claimed Kyslynsky, the president’s press service reports him as saying Sept. 30.

“Lazarenko lawyers say his term in jail expires this year. There are people in Ukraine who do not want Lazarenko’s case reviewed by a Ukrainian court and the premier (who was allegedly incriminated in criminal deals) to return to Ukraine. Such a low-key scenario would save former buddies and partners of Lazarenko of nervous breakdowns and sleepless nights,” the official said.

“However, such scenario would give ammunition to political speculators, especially during election campaigning. A former colleague and business partner of Pavlo Lazarenko, Yulia Tymoshenko must be interested in defending her good name by crossing all legal Ts,” Kyslynsky stressed.

As he pointed out, Ukrainians are still in the dark about one of the most high-profile corruption cases in the country’s history.

“In this context, Tymoshenko’s nervous reaction to the reports about Lazarenko’s likely return to Ukraine gives ground to make various assumptions to those skeptics who do not believe in Tymoshenko’s mental instability. One of them concerns Tymoshenko’s forthcoming trip to Moscow where she will apparently ask the Russians to neutralize the Lazarenko threat and preclude his return to Ukraine to face a trial. Russia can help by opening criminal proceedings against Lazarenko,” the president’s office official assumed.

“We do not believe such a scenario is likely as the services of Russia will carry a big price,” Kysluynsky opined.