KIEV, April 27 – The commission in matters of clemency under President Viktor Yanukovych on Saturday found no reasons for pardoning jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko, the presidential press service reported.

The commission, which cited ongoing investigations of alleged “grave crimes” committed by Tymoshenko, said “the question of pardon is premature.”

The decision follows a petition from a group of female lawmakers that have officially asked Yanukovych to pardon Tymoshenko.

The decision, which echoes earlier comments by Yanukovych, was announced days after foreign ministers of several European Union countries suggested that jailing of Tymoshenko remains a serious obstacle for deepening ties.

The development may be a setback for Ukraine’s hopes to sign deals on free trade and political association with the EU at a summit in Vilnius in November.

Brussels made it conditional on Kiev passing a number of legal reforms and addressing Western criticism of its justice and electoral systems. It also cited cases of "selective justice", a term used to describe the prosecution of rival politicians under President Viktor Yanukovych.

“The refusal to release Tymoshenko is first of all unwillingness of Yanukovych himself to admit of making a political mistake and abandon selective justice,” Vitaliy Klichko, the leader of the opposition Udar party, said. “This will not help Ukraine’s European aspirations.”

Tymoshenko was sentenced to seven years in prison in October 2011 on charges related to a 2009 gas deal with Russia which Yanukovych says has saddled Ukraine with an exorbitant energy prices.

Since last May Tymoshenko has been receiving treatment for back trouble in a state-run hospital in the city of Kharkiv.

Yanukovych earlier this month pardoned two former members of Tymoshenko's government who had been jailed on abuse-of-office charges, a move welcomed by Brussels.

Henadiy Vasylyev, the head of the commission in the matters of clemency, said the commission will ask Yanukovych not to pardon Tymoshenko.

"I believe that in this case the commission made the only right decision,” he said. “We will ask the president to not use the act of clemency against Yulia Tymoshenko."

The Ukrainian authorities have so far shown little sign of relenting in Tymoshenko case. Apart from the charge for which she is currently in prison, she is also being prosecuted for alleged embezzlement and tax evasion.

Separately, pre-trial hearings are being conducted in a third case against her over allegations she ordered a contract killing of a local businessman and parliament deputy in 1996 - a charge which carries a sentence of life imprisonment.

Tymoshenko denied all accusations as politically motivated. (tl/ez)