BOLTON’S Ukrainian community has urged the town’s three MPs to act over problems in their homeland.

Former prime minister Julia Tymoshenko is on trial accused of corruption, which campaigners say is a “showtrial” with the aim of “stifling democracy”.

Now David Crausby, Julie Hilling and Yasmin Qureshi have been urged to lobby Foreign Secretary William Hague over the issue.

A spokesman said: “The events in Ukraine are disturbing to say the least. Democracy is being attacked and the right to free speech is being strangled.

“The trial of Julia Tymoshenko is nothing no more than a show trial, to bar her from participating in the forthcoming presidential elections.

“The hidden agenda of the current regime in Kyiv is to stifle democracy. We in the United Kingdom have a voice and a democracy which although not perfect, at least that voice can be heard. As our elected representatives of Bolton, we the Ukrainian community of Bolton call upon you to make representation to the Foreign Secretary, the Rt.

Hon. William Hague, to voice concerns over the situation.”