The mission of Pat Cox and Aleksander Kwasniewski is taking a concrete shape (let’s call it for short ‘the CK mission’). What originally was supposed to be an observation of the cassation process turns out to be something much more important. Cox and Kwasniewski for almost half a year will be superobservers of Ukrainian politics.

Such conclusions can be drawn after Monday’s visit of the two politicians to Kiev. The Ukrainian side agreed that their area of interest cover all processes of Yulia Tymoshenko and other political prisoners. They were received at the highest level (President Yanukovych and Prime Minister Azarov) and were offered full assistance for the duration of the mission. A mandate outlined in this way gives them a unique opportunity to ease tensions that will arise during the election campaign.

We do not know yet what the end of the mission will look like. In my opinion, there will be at least a report presented to Martin Schulz, which in consequence will be the basis for a parliamentary debate. But this will turn out on Monday when Cox and Kwasniewski will meet Schulz in Brussels and communicate their current thoughts.