People News

Madonna urges support for jailed Ukrainian PM

Aug 13, 2012, 15:02 GMT

Madonna

Madonna has urged people to support jailed former Ukrainian leader Yulia Tymoshenko.

The 'Girls Gone Wild' singer engaged with the small crowd who were watching her rehearsals ahead of a show in the country's capital, Kiev, last Saturday (04.08.12), to ask about the former Prime Minister, who was jailed in 2011 for her alleged abuse of office during her time in power from December 2007 to March, 2010.

In a video posted on YouTube, Madonna says: 'I don't even know the actual truth, I've just heard some stories from emails ... Is it true that the woman who was the former president (sic) is in jail here?'

When Tymoshenko's supporters protest her conviction, Madonna tells them: 'If you feel so strongly, how come no one's fighting for her? You might get killed? So, this is what we call freedom? Just curious, thank you for telling me.'

She then told the crowd that they should stand up and fight for her release, saying: 'Are you brave? Do you have courage? Are you willing to fight for what is right?'

Madonna, 53, did not repeat her comments during her actual concert that night, but she has made forays into the political arena recently, supporting jailed Russian feminist punk band Pussy Riot at her show last Tuesday (07.08.12). The group face prison time for performing a protest song against President Vladimir Putin.

Officials in St. Petersburg were upset by the singer on Thursday night (09.08.12) as she challenged the city's gay rights legislation during a concert, handing out pink bracelets to 25,000 fans.