Authorities send signal to Turchynov to move into lower gear

The earlier arrests of high-ranking Tymoshenko cabinet officials, Didenko and Makarenko, had the sole purpose of squeezing information out of them about their superiors in the government, Popov believes.

The current political repression demonstrated by the new regime against its predecessors may come to naught, with no court rulings or apologies for keeping the ex-officials in custody for so long, the expert says.

The regime will shot itself in the foot by persecuting Yulia Tymoshenko, as, becoming a victim of political repression will boost her approval rating.

The regime will continue to bash Tymoshenko, but she won’t be detained, Popov stresses.