What next for London and Kyiv

Having just returned from a two week holiday, we witness surprises both in London and Kyiv.

In Kyiv, former Prime Minister Yulia Tyoshenko was arrested on 5^th August and taken into custody. Her so called ‘trial’ continues in Kyiv as each day more and more countries express their concern about the ‘political persecution’ of Yulia Tymoshenko and requests/statements continue to be made to the President of Ukraine to stop the ‘circus’ of events and actions that demonstrate that the current government is taking against members of the former government and opposition in Ukraine.

The number of policemen and ‘special forces’ involved in the Yulia Tymoshenko court case is just amazing. The whole process is not good for the image of Ukraine. Plus it is not good for potential investors who may previously have been considering Ukraine.

In London, we see reports of riots and unrest, not just in London but in other major cities in the UK. The riots involving widespread looting of shops and business premises are being carried out by what we can only describe as ‘opportunists’. They are just gangs of criminals doing things that many people find amazing on the streets on the UK. In most other countries, Ukraine included, these ‘rioters’ would have been dealt with in a very strong way by law enforcement agencies. It would appear that the British police have become too soft on crime. These events have been reported around the world and the once great image of the ‘British establishment’ has been dented. The British Prime Minister David Cameron has recalled parliament for tomorrow to discuss and agree a course of action to regain control of British cities.

So, both Ukraine and the UK are suffering from an image problem right now. Both relate to the ‘Rule of Law’. Many commentators will claim that the UK is one of the best countries in the world when it comes to implementation of the ‘rule of law’. The British have a strong reputation for justice.

Other commentators will relate to Ukraine and its almost complete lack of the ‘rule of law’. However the Ukrainian police/militia would have cracked down with great force on any ‘rioters’ like we have seen in London. The British it would appear are not so good at dealing with rioters, but would have ensured that Yulia Tymoshenko would have a fair trial under the great British legal system.

What we need then, is for the Ukrainian police to control the streets of London and the famous independent judges and prosecutors from the UK to sort out the trial of Yulia Tymoshenko. Unfortunately we do not live in a perfect world.