Batkivshchyna Party leader Yulia Tymoshenko has demanded that President Viktor Yanukovych release immediately all political prisoners who are being prosecuted in order to block their opposition activities.

"I want Yanukovych to just as quickly as he had them arrested release all the people he is currently politically repressing. This is a public demand and we, from the opposition to civil society, will follow its implementation," Yulia Tymoshenko told journalists today before her latest round of questioning at the Prosecutor General’s Office, according to the official website.

Yulia Tymoshenko was referring to the release of former Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko, former Head of the State Customs Service Anatoliy Makarenko, former First Deputy Chairman of Naftohaz of Ukraine Ihor Didenko, as well as representatives of organizations that have been accused of destroying the Stalin statue in Zaporizhzhia, and others.

Yulia Tymoshenko welcomed the release of former First Deputy Justice Minister Yevhen Korniychuk. "Of course we’re very happy about this. When was he released? After a conversation in Yanukovych’s office with Vasyl Oponenko. This is evidence of that fact that people are arrested and released not in the courts or Prosecutor General’s Office, but in Yanukovych’s office. He passes sentences against people without courts or investigations. He is persecuting people and trying to remove them from taking part in activities, including political," she said.

As of today, the following individuals are in custody: former Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko, former Acting Defense Minister Valeriy Ivashcheko, former Environment Minister Heorhiy Filipchuk, former Head of the State Customs Service Anatoliy Makarenko, former First Deputy Chairman of Naftohaz of Ukraine Ihor Didenko, former Deputy Head of the State Committee of State Material Reserves Mykola Synkovsky, former Acting Head of the State Committee of State Material Reserves Vitaliy Nikitin, former Deputy Head of the Regional Customs Energy Department Taras Shepitko, former First Deputy Head of the State Treasury Tetyana Hrytsun, and Director of UkrMedPostach Mykola Petrenko.

Travel bans have been issued to former First Deputy Justice Minister Yevhen Korniychuk and former Transport Minister Viktor Bondar.

Former Economy Minister Bohdan Danylyshyn was detained in Prague. In January, the Czech Republic granted him political asylum. Former Head of the State Committee of State Material Reserves Mykhailo Pozhyvanov has announced he plans to seek political asylum in Austria.

Former Chief Accountant at Naftohaz Maria Kushnir is in Russia awaiting extradition. An arrest warrant has been issued for former Head of the State Treasury Tetyana Slyuz for violating a travel ban.

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