Austria’s government said Wednesday it will boycott all Euro 2012 football matches in Ukraine to protest at the treatment of jailed ex-premier Yulia Tymoshenko, who is on hunger strike. “No member of the Austrian government will attend these games, that is our mark of solidarity,” Vice-Chancellor and Foreign Minister Michael Spindelegger said after a cabinet meeting. Vienna wanted to send Kiev a political signal, he added.
The move follows reports that the German government was considering boycotting the Ukrainian matches over concerns for Tymoshenko’s well-being. The 51-year-old former Ukrainian premier was controversially jailed for seven years in October on disputed charges and has complained of beatings by prison guards.
