Dutch Officials May Boycott Euro 2012 over Tymoshenko Treatment

Ukraine's ex PM Yulia Tymoshenko shows bruises that she claimed she got during her transportation from jail to a hospital, April 27, 2012, Photo by EPA/BGNES

The Netherlands' caretaker government has threatened to boycott the European Football Championship in Ukraine this summer, if the country doesn't improve the treatment of its prisoners.

Dutch Foreign Minister Uri Rosenthal says this applies in particular to the treatment of former Prime Minister Julia Tymoshenko, who is currently in prison.

If there is a boycott, it will not apply to the Dutch national football team, Radio Netherlands Worldwide has informed. However, members of the government and the royal family will not visit European Championship football matches unless there is visible improvement in Tymoshenko's situation.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and EU Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso are among the EU officials that already threatened to snub Euro 2012 over the Tymoshenko issue.

Tymoshenko is in jail on a seven-year sentence for abuse of power over the signing of an allegedly unfavorable gas supply contract with Russia after the 2009 gas crisis.

Euro 2012 will be co-hosted by Ukraine and Poland and is to take place between June 8 and July 1.

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