Excerpt –
KIEV — Nine European leaders are shunning a Central European summit hosted by Ukraine this month, adding to international pressure on the former Soviet republic over its treatment of jailed opposition politician Yulia Tymoshenko.
The move, which follows allegations of Tymoshenko’s beating in prison, highlights Ukraine’s growing isolation and casts doubts on Kiev’s plans to improve its image abroad by hosting the European soccer championship next month.
The presidents of Germany, Austria, Italy, Croatia, Estonia, Slovenia, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic have all said they would not attend the May 11-12 gathering in the Black Sea resort of Yalta to be hosted by President Viktor Yanukovich.
