Poland holds disputes on conducting Euro-2012 in Ukraine

Head of the Polish Party, "Law and Justice," Jaroslaw Kaczynski demands that Poland should join the boycott of the Ukrainian part of the Euro 2012. The reason is that there are political prisoners in the country, Spokesman of the party Adam Hoffman explains the party’s position.

Adam Hoffman: "Polish politicians should not go to the Ukrainian matches, while Julia Tymoshenko remains behind bars. The entire civilized world, including countries like Germany or Austria, know what's going on in Ukraine. If we assume that everything is all right in Ukraine, then we are naive, like children."

According to him, today is the best time to make the political authorities of Ukraine do at least some democratic changes.

The statement made by Jaroslaw Kaczynski  was commented upon by his main political opponent - current PM of Poland Donald Tusk.

Donald Tusk: "I consider the statement of the leader of "Law and Justice" on boycott of the Euro-2012 in Ukraine a bad start. This is an auto-goal, but we will correct the situation together".

Previously, President of the European Commission José Manuel Barroso and German Chancellor Angela Merkel also stated their unwillingness to attend the Ukrainian matches. EU Commissioner on Justice Vivian Reading also announced that she would not go to the opening of the Euro-2012. The European officials are outraged with the situation with human rights violations in Ukraine, as well as with existence of political prisoners in the country (for example, the ex-PM Julia Tymoshenko).

It would seem that the European officials speak about the things familiar to Belarusians - the human rights violations and political prisoners. However, despite the fact that the situation in Ukraine is deteriorating, it is too early to compare it with Belarus, says MEP Marek Migalski, adding that there is at least “lame” democracy in Ukraine. Therefore, he does not support the idea to deprive Ukraine of European Football Championship or to boycott it, although this very launched a campaign against holding the Ice Hockey World Cup in Belarus in the European Parliament.

Marek Migalski: "I think that boycott is the decision taken by some European politicians, but everyone realizes that both the EU and Ukraine are interested in holding the Euro-2012 in Ukraine in the end, and it is also obvious that both the EU and Ukraine want the situation with human rights to change for the better, not for the worst".

However, in the opinion of Raman Byassmertny, former Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine to Belarus, the situation with the Ice Hockey World Cup in Belarus and the Euro 2012 in Ukraine are very similar. He thinks that the Europeans’ boycott is a very mild measure against the Yanukovich’s regime. Moreover, he is convinced that  the cancellation of the Ice Hockey World Cup in Belarus is quite possible, for some reason.

Raman Byassmertny: "They are similar, the only difference is that the Euro-2012 will take place in Ukraine while there will be no Ice Hockey World Cup in Belarus. I'm telling you this not accidentally".

Meanwhile, the Football Federation of Ukraine does not comment on the possible boycott or transfer of the championship. The Federation is working in a normal mode and is preparing for the competition, says head of the informational policy administration of the Football Federation of Ukraine Syarhei Vasilieu.

Syarhei Vasilieu: "The Football Federation of Ukraine is preparing for the World Cup. This is the subject of our interest. Everything else lies beyond, and we do not comment on the views of anyone outside of our competence. "

Polish media reacted to the possible boycott of the tournament by the European politicians immediately: on May 4, the Polish newspapers came out with the heading "We boycott the boycott of Euro-2012".