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.
Austrian govt to boycott Euro 2012 matches in Ukraine
