France warns Ukraine over Tymoshenko treatment

(PARIS) - France warned Ukraine Friday that its treatment of jailed ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko could affects its ties with the European Union as Kiev prepares to host the Euro 2012 football tournament.

"With the approach of Euro 2012... France reminds Ukraine of its grave concerns on the evolution of Ukraine's political situation, notably in regards to the fate of Mrs. Tymoshenko," said foreign ministry spokesman Vincent Floreani.

"We call on Ukrainian authorities to respect their commitments in terms of fundamental freedoms and to take the necessary decisions in this regard in the next few weeks," he said.

"France reminds Ukraine that its relationship with the European Union... is founded on the values of freedom, democracy and respect for fundamental rights," he said.

Ukraine has been coming under increasing fire for its treatment of Tymoshenko ahead of the tournament starting on June 8 which it is co-hosting with Poland.

Tymoshenko, who was jailed for seven years on charges of abuse of power in October, upped the stakes in her standoff with the authorities last month by going on hunger strike and claiming she had been beaten by prison guards.