----- Forwarded Message ----- From: Dalia Hashad - Avaaz.org <[email protected]> To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, 1 May 2012, 2:18 Subject: Fair play for Yulia Dear friends, Right now, Yulia Tymoshenko, Ukraine’s imprisoned opposition leader is on her 11th day of hunger strike. In weeks, Ukraine is hosting Euro 2012 and President Yanukovych wants to use it as a diplomatic opportunity to whitewash his regimes wrongdoing. Germany is considering boycotting the games as long as Tymoshenko is in jail. Let’s call on all heads of state not to go and put democracy and human rights first. Sign the petition, now: Right now, Yulia Tymoshenko, Ukraine’s imprisoned opposition leader and most popular Ukrainian politician, is on her 11th day of hunger strike -- risking death to protest her brutal mistreatment and denial of urgent medical care. But, we have a chance to help save her and help restore the Ukraine’s best hope for democracy. In weeks, all eyes will be on Ukraine as the country co-hosts the Euro 2012 football championships -- one of the world’s biggest sporting events. President Yanukovych is desperate to use the event to whitewash his regime's crimes and help consolidate his power and image with global leaders by having them as his guests at the games. Tymoshenko is asking world leaders not to legitimize him by attending the games. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that she is considering boycotting the games so long as Tymoshenko is imprisoned. And today other countries announced they are considering doing the same. Let’s pile on the pressure and tell all our world leaders not to go. Time is running out quickly -- sign the petition now and send it to everyone: http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_yulia_timoshenko_a/?vl Yulia Tymoshenko, the former prime minister and a leader of Ukraine’s Orange revolution was jailed last year -- and sentenced to seven years for abuse of office in what critics called a politically motivated show trial designed to keep Ukraine’s top political leader out of the next few election cycles. Denied urgent medical treatment for a serious spinal injury and charging prison guards with violent assault, Tymoshenko went on hunger strike on the 20th of April. Days ago, photos were leaked showing severe bruising on Tymoshenko’s body. Ukraine has been home to serious political scandal, violent human rights abuses and is even planning to force its students to move out of their dorms and provide free labour during the games. Getting the games to the Ukraine is a political coup in President Yanukovych’s plan to revamp his image. A heads of state boycott of matches in Ukraine would be a diplomatic derailment of his PR plans. The major football club Bayern Munich is asking UAEFA for action and several EU heads of state are refusing to attend high-level meetings in the Ukraine unless action is taken. The pressure is mounting and the world’s leaders are paying attention. Our massive outcry now to world leaders who are already wavering could end Tymoshenko's abuse and push for human rights and democracy in Ukraine. Sign the urgent petition now:http://www.avaaz.org/en/save_yulia_timoshenko_a/?vl Today, Tymoshenko, Ukraine's most popular politician, is in her prison cell in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv -- one of the cities hosting Euro 2012 games. Let’s stand with her now and join together to make sure the world does not pander to this regime and that Ukraine’s democracy doesn’t die in prison. With hope and determination, Dalia, Sam, Alice, Antonia, Ricken, Laura, Anu, and the whole Avaaz team More Information: Angela Merkel plans Euro 2012 boycott if Yulia Tymoshenko kept in jail (The Guardian) http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/29/angela-merkel-boycott-euro-2012-yulia-tymoshenkoUkraine and Tymoshenko: Merkel Rediscovers a Soft Spot for Human Rights (Spiegel) http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,830551,00.html EU leaders shun Ukraine over Tymoshenko case (AFP) http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jzsbhRYUT921nc9o-aS5YHuKrCqA?docId=CNG.78f1b60b316925221f3621f1c87b6933.6b1 Bayern Munich President Uli Hoeness: 'Respect for Every Player Who Takes a Stand on Ukraine' (Spiegel) http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,830553,00.html European Union Protests Ukraine’s Treatment of Jailed Ex-Premier (New York Times) http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/27/world/europe/europe-protests-ukraines-treatment-of-yulia-tymoshenko.html Jailed former Ukraine prime minister must be released (Amnesty) http://www.amnesty.org/en/news-and-updates/jailed-former-ukraine-prime-minister-must-be-released-2011-10-11 Support the Avaaz Community! 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