Polish opposition leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski has called for a boycott of European football championship matches in Ukraine to protest the treatment of the country's imprisoned opposition politician Yulia Tymoshenko, Polish media reported Thursday.
Former Prime Minister Tymoshenko is serving a seven-year sentence for abuse of office, after what she claims was a politically motivated trial. Photographs last week appeared to show bruising on her body after she claimed that she had been beaten in jail.
Poland is playing co-host with Ukraine for the Euro 2012 tournament, which begins June 8 and is considered one of Europe's most prestigious sporting events.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel reportedly threatened last week to ban her ministers from attending, while European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso has vowed to stay away.
The comments put Kaczynski, head of the opposition Law and Justice party, at odds with Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski, who said a boycott was “inappropriate” in comments on Polish television Wednesday.
“In view of the situation of imprisoned opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, the Law and Justice party advocates a boycott of the European football championship games taking place in Ukraine, to put further pressure on the Ukrainian government,” Kaczynski said, in comments reported by Polish daily Dziennik.
“Only a firm stance is likely to prompt the government in Kiev to change its policy,” Kaczynski said.
Kaczynski suggested that games should be moved from Ukraine, although UEFA tournament director Martin Kallen appeared to rule this out in comments Monday.
