Ukrainian boxer says Euro 2012 boycott counter-productive

PanARMENIAN.Net - A wide-reaching boycott of Ukraine during Euro 2012 by senior European Union officials would be counter-productive and punish average Ukrainians, heavyweight boxing champion Vitali Klitschko said on Friday, May 25.

"I will not bring the desired political result, Ukraine's leaders will not become more democratic from a Euro boycott," the Ukrainian Klitschko said.

Klitschko's comments came in the wake of warnings by numerous European politicians that they would not travel to Ukraine during the upcoming football championship due to concerns over laws in the country and the imprisonment of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

"One should not boycott the country and its people, but specific officials who are responsible for authoritarian decisions and acts," Klitschko said. "Not Ukrainian fans, Ukrainian sport, and Ukraine as a whole."

Head of an opposition political party in his home country, Klitschko is an outspoken critic of the Ukrainian government headed by President Viktor Yanukovych, a politician with close links to big business and Russia. Klitschko has held the WBC heavyweight title belt since 2008.

The Euro 2012 football championship are co-hosted by Ukraine and Poland from June 8 until July, dpa reported.