Leaders of Christian organizations ask Ukrainian president to release Tymoshenko from prison

Kiev, May 6, Interfax – The heads of several Christian religious organizations except the primate of Ukranian Orthodox Church have asked President Viktor Yanukovich to show mercy on Easter Sunday and pardon the country’s former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who was sentenced to seven years in prison for abuse of power.

“It was with joy and hope that we heard the news on Annunciation Day of the president’s decision to pardon Yury Lutsenko and Georgy Filipchuk. This charitable deed by the president became a serious step to repair the consequences of selective justice in our state,” the opposition Batkivshchyna party said, citing the message to Yanukovich.

Without interfering in state affairs, the church calls for forgiveness, mercy and love for other people, the message says.

“Pardoning Yulia Vladimirovna Tymoshenko and releasing her from prison would celebrate these godly virtues,” it says.

The message was signed by head of the self-proclaimed Kievan Patriarchate Filaret Denisenko, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church head Svyatoslav Shevchuk, head of the self-proclaimed Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church Mefody Kudryakov, Evangelical Baptist Union of Ukraine President Vyacheslav Nesteruk, Ukrainian Christian Church of Evangelical Faith Bishop Mikhail Panochko and Roman Catholic Church in Ukraine Archbishop Pyotr Malchuk.

The Ukrainian president has also received similar requests from representatives of almost all regions of the country, as well as diplomats, lawyers, political scientists, experts, renowned Ukrainian doctors.

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