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Ukraine plays down Euro 2012 snubs over Tymoshenko

The Columbian
Published: May 23, 2012, 5:00pm

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — The Ukrainian president is playing down plans by some European leaders to boycott the Euro 2012 championship matches in Ukraine over the imprisonment of ex-premier Yulia Tymoshenko.

President Viktor Yanukovych also suggested in an interview with the Segodnya daily newspaper published Thursday that Tymoshenko, who is suffering from a severe spinal condition, will not be allowed to be treated abroad.

Tymoshenko, 51, is serving a seven year term on charges of office condemned as politically motivated by the West. Allegations that the top opposition leader was beaten by prison officials have prompted top EU officials to announce a boycott of Euro 2012 games hosted in Ukraine during the June 8 – July 1 event.

Yanukovych said such talk had political undertones and that the championship would still be a success.

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