Ukraine boycott continues for Kiev quarter-final against Italy over treatment of opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko
There will be no government presence in Kiev on Sunday for England's Euro 2012 quarter-final clash with Italy amid continued concerns about "selective justice" in Ukraine, but sports minister Hugh Robertson is expected to travel to the semi-final in Poland if the team make it that far.
After ministers boycotted England's group-stage matches in protest against the treatment of opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, the policy will continue for the quarter-final but Downing Street said no decision had been made on what would happen if Roy Hodgson's side reach the final in Kiev.
Asked why ministers would not be in Kiev on Sunday to see England take on Italy, a Downing Street spokeswoman said: "It reflects ministers' busy schedules ahead of the Olympics and widespread concerns about selective justice and the rule of law in …Ukraine."
If England win, Robertson is expected to travel to Warsaw for the semi-final, based on the fact that it is taking place in Poland rather than Ukraine.
But asked if the boycott would then apply to the final in Kiev, should they progress that far, she added: "Let's see how we get on on Sunday. No decision has been made."
Several EU countries have announced they will not be attending games in Ukraine.
Last month the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, said she and her cabinet would not attend any German games played in Ukraine, which is co-hosting the tournament with Poland, unless the human rights situation under the president, Viktor Yanukovych, improved.
The president of the European commission, José Manuel Barroso, and Viviane Reding, the EU commissioner for justice, have also confirmed they will not be travelling to Ukraine.
The Czech president, Václav Klaus, and Germany's president, Joachim Gauck, also called off a regional summit last month at the Ukrainian resort of Yalta.
Oleg Voloshyn, the Ukraine foreign ministry spokesman in Kiev, said following the decision to boycott the group stages that he regretted what he called the UK's "emotional" decision.
"There are multiple channels to express the British position as far as the Tymoshenko case is concerned. It has already been done in a clear and consistent way.
"The boycott of the sporting event that has nothing to do with politics is a sign that the British government is inclined to resort to emotional rather than deeply calculated steps. [They] damage football but don't influence in any positive way the situation with the issue that concerns London," he said. Read More
انسخ الكود التالى و ضعه فى موقعك او مدونتك.
