US envoy visits jailed ex-PM in Ukraine clinic

(KHARKIV) - A US State Department envoy visited Ukraine's jailed ex-premier Yulia Tymoshenko in hospital on Monday amid mounting Western criticism over her prosecution and treatment.

Deputy Assistant Secretary Thomas Melia from the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor became the second foreign official to visit Tymoshenko in the state hospital, where she agreed to be moved last week for back pain treatment.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has said she was "deeply concerned" about 51-year-old Tymoshenko, questioning the conditions of her confinement and calling for her release.

The 2004 Orange Revolution leader has been behind bars since August and is now serving a seven-year sentence for abuse of power while prime minister, a charge that Western states view as politically motivated.

Tymoshenko was moved to the hospital last week under an agreement that will see her treated by a German doctor rather than Ukrainian medics, whom she does not trust.

"She did say that she's happy with the medical care she's getting," Melia told reporters after leaving the hospital.

Melia said he spoke to Tymoshenko for about 30 minutes but did not go into further details, calling the talks a "private matter".

"One of the reasons for our visit here this week is that I am in Ukraine to continue our official dialogue with the government of Ukraine on the rule of law and political reform," he said.

US officials also declined to comment on the possible boycott that Ukraine may be facing from European officials during the Euro 2012 football championships it co-host with Poland next month.

"The US is not participating as a team," so it does not have a position on the matter, said the US ambassador John Tefft, who also came to the hospital.

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite met Tymoshenko on Friday before speaking with President Viktor Yanukovych in Kiev.

The EU Commission has said all its commissioners would be boycotting the football events hosted by Ukraine, a move that may be matched by ministers from Germany and other states.