Alleged Abuse of Former Ukrainian PM Causes Euro 2012 Boycott

The Euro 2012 soccer tournament is helping bring to light the controversy surrounding former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s imprisonment on what her supporters say are trumped up charges.

Tymoshenko, 51, was sentenced to seven years in prison in October 2011 for allegedly abusing her power and is currently serving her sentence. The European Union condemned the conviction, calling it “selective justice.”

Tymoshenko claimed she was severely beaten by prison guards, and has been on a hunger strike since April 20 in protest of her alleged mistreatment.

“She’s been on a hunger strike for 15 days,” Tymoshenko’s aide Alexander Turchinov said Friday, according to The Associated Press. “Her life is in real danger.”             More Read