Vitali Klitschko Offers Bail for Jailed Political Leader, Continues Training Camp in Ukraine
By Johnny Walker
According to a report in the Kiev Post, WBC Heavyweight Champion Vitali Klitschko, who suspended his training camp in Austria over the weekend to return to Ukraine, has offered to post bail for the jailed former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. Klitschko also said he will continue his training camp in Ukraine in preparation for his scheduled September 10 title defense in Wroclaw, Poland.
At a press conference yesterday (August 9) in Kiev, Klitschko said that, “The release of Yulia Tymoshenko from custody could be the first step toward restoring stability in the country and the trust of the international community.”
“If it’s necessary to stand bail for this fragile woman, I am ready to do it,” Klitschko added.
Klitschko is trying to use his world-wide celebrity status to bring attention to the situation in Ukraine, and to bring pressure from foreign governments for the release of Tymoshenko, who claims she is the victim of a political set-up.
“The lack of dialog between the government and the opposition is a direct path to dictatorship,” said Klitschko, who belongs to a political party which wants Ukraine to develop closer ties to European social democracies. The current ruling party favors the notion of Ukraine remaining under Russian influence.
Klitschko also said that he will continue his preparations in Ukraine for the scheduled September 10 title defense against Tomasz Adamek for as long as it is necessary to resolve the political stalemate. Klitschko had been working in Austria with trainer Fritz Sdunek until last weekend, when he returned to Ukraine as the Tymoshenko crisis worsened.