NEW YORK, Oct. 31 – U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton on Wednesday expressed “deep concern” over flawed elections in Ukraine and continued imprisonment of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, apparently shocking Ukrainian diplomats.

Clinton spoke at an event in Bosnia jointly with EU High Representative Catherine Ashton a day after the U.S. Department of State had issued a statement criticizing the vote.

“Regarding Ukraine, we share the view of the OSCE monitors that Sunday’s elections constituted a step backward for Ukrainian democracy,” Clinton said. “It was a step backward from the parliamentary elections and the 2010 presidential election.”