The daughter of Ukraine’s detained former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko told US lawmakers Thursday she still feared for her mother’s life, and implored them to “keep the pressure” on Kiev to help free political dissidents. Speaking via live video link from Kiev to a House of Representatives hearing in Washington, Yevgenia Tymoshenko also warned that Ukraine’s powerful current rulers will do “anything possible” to manipulate results of the country’s upcoming October election. “I am very afraid for my mother’s life now in the hospital,” where she is surrounded by medical personnel who are under intense pressure from the regime, Yevgenia told the so-called Helsinki Commission on security and cooperation in Europe. The opposition leader has been struggling with medical problems and complained over rough handling by her guards. She briefly went on a hunger strike to protest her detention. “We are just asking you please to keep the pressure on,” Yevgenia said. “Please don’t leave us alone, because in Ukraine there’s not enough power in people, not strong enough to fight against this injustice.”
