KIEV, November 21 (RIA Novosti) – Ukraine’s parliament rejected draft laws Thursday that would have allowed jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko to seek medical treatment abroad, endangering the country’s chances of signing deals to secure closer economic ties with the EU.
Ukraine's ruling Party of the Regions declined to support any of the six proposals before parliament, which would have paved the way for Tymoshenko to leave the country.
Tymoshenko's release is seen in the European Union as a key precondition for Kiev to sign free trade agreements that would mark a historic westward shift at a much-anticipated conference in Vilnius next week.
Ukraine has been at the center of intensive diplomatic negotiations with both Russia and the EU in recent weeks.
Russia has been angered by the prospect of closer Ukrainian ties with the European Union, and has pressed for Kiev to join a Moscow-led Customs Union with Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.
© Сollage by RIA Novosti
Customs Union of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan
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