Yulia Tymoshenko family 'extremely' worried over her health

But the authorities have since opened new hearings against her relating to tax charges dating back to the 1990s that may extend her stay in jail until 2023.

European concern intensified Monday when the office of European Commission chief José Manuel Barroso said he had "no intention" of travelling to Ukraine when it begins co-hosting the football tournament with Poland on June 8.

At least five European presidents simultaneously declined invitations to attend a May 11-12 summit in the Black Sea report of Yalta and signalled their plans to also miss the Euro event.

Yevgenia urged Ukrainians to rise up in protest and match the concern expressed over her mother's treatment by EU states.

"If the regime of Yanukovych did this to a former prime minister, imagine what it can do to each one of you," the 32-year-old pleaded.

Yanukovych himself has stayed silent on the boycott and has thus far issued no public statement on Tymoshenko's hunger strike.

He issued a May Day message on Tuesday saying the holidays should "reinforce our strength and trust in ourselves."

Source: AFP