REUTERS

KIEV UKRAINIAN Prime Minister Mykola Azarov on Wednesday brushed aside Western concerns about his government’s treatment of opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko as misguided and unwarranted, indicating that Kiev was unlikely to change its mind.

The EU has condemned the sentencing of former prime minister Tymoshenko - the top opponent of President Viktor Yanukovich - to seven years in prison last October as politically motivated.

Tymoshenko, who was found guilty of abusing her powers as prime minister in forcing through a 2009 gas deal with Russia, has denied any wrongdoing and said Yanukovich was pursuing a personal vendetta against her.

The European Union has urged Tymoshenko’s release and warned Ukraine its 27 members would otherwise refuse to ratify landmark agreements on political association and free trade with Kiev.

Azayov agreed to European Parliament proposals to send a monitor to Tymoshenko’s appeal hearing and a group of medical experts to assess the health of the opposition leader who is now being treated for chronic back pain.