Newly elected Ombudsperson says she “may change her rhetoric” in the Lutsenko case
Valeria Lutkovska (photo Justice Ministry)
Valeria Lutkovska who was voted Human Rights Ombudsperson by 252 MPs during a vote in Parliament has told Channel 5 that she is ready to review her position on the case of former Interior Minister Yury Lutsenko after a more detailed reading of the file material.
“With regard to all events around the Lutsenko case, as in all other cases, I am absolutely free in my statements and assessments, however in order to make these assessments, I need to look into the situation and have access to the material of the case in order to formulate my own point of view”, Ms Lutkovska stated.
“After my election, after I get to grips with the case material, I will be free including in order to change my rhetoric”.
Ms Lutkovska asserted that in no country does the Ombudsperson represent the interests of officials or opposition figures, but defends “the interests of the little person” who is not defended by a large number of lawyers”.
Valeria Lutkovska was Ukrainian Government Representative during the public hearing in the case of Yury Lutsenko v. Ukraine in the European Court of Human Rights on 17 April.
The public hearing can be viewed here: www.echr.coe.int
see also:
• Lutsenko trial: More witnesses adamant that his actions were lawful
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• Latest hearing in Lutsenko trial
• Lutsenko trial continues with “victim” still absent
• No grounds for moving Yury Lutsenko to prison colony
• Appeal Court upholds Lutsenko sentence
• Lutsenko’s appeal hearing begins
• Court rejects Lutsenko application for trial investigation
• Lutsenko’s former Ministry colleagues collect amount to compensate “Police Day” events
• Lutsenko returned to prison
• Lutsenko’s former colleagues collecting money to pay “compensation” demanded
• European Court hearing in Lutsenko case
• German Ombudsperson condemns politically motivated prosecutions
• Freedom House Delegation visits Ukraine
• The Electoral force of unsubstantiated allegations
• Pshonka issues instruction for Tymoshenko to be treated outside prison
• Negotiations on treatment of Yulia Tymoshenko in Germany
• Swift and coordinated – next Tymoshenko verdict not far off
• PACE Co-Rapporteurs prevented from seeing Yulia Tymoshenko
