Trial of Ukraine's ex-leader adjourned
Source: Agencies |
July 5, 2011, Tuesday
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THE trial of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was adjourned yesterday until tomorrow, after the embattled opposition leader hired a new lawyer and once again refused to stand up to honor the judge.
Tymoshenko, who faces up to 10 years in prison if found guilty on abuse of power charges, has dismissed the case as a "mock trial" orchestrated by President Viktor Yanukovich's camp to get rid of his main political rival.
The case has raised concerns in the European Union with which Ukraine wants to sign an association agreement in order to attract badly needed foreign investment and ease dependence of Russia.
Tymoshenko, 50, lectured judge Rodion Kireyev on criminal law, refused to stand up while addressing him and called the trial a farce.
Having brought in a new lawyer, she asked the court to give him one month to study the case but was granted time only until July 6.
"This means that tomorrow he will need to read over 4,000 pages," Tymoshenko told the court during the hearings, which were broadcast live on local television. "Is this justice? No, this is not justice."
The prosecution alleges that Tymoshenko, who was twice prime minister, abused her power in the signing of a 2009 gas import deal with Russia that ended a price row which briefly disrupted Russian gas supplies to Western Europe via Ukraine.
It says that, without consulting her government, she forced the then-head of state-owned Naftogaz to sign the gas deal with Russia's Gazprom. Tymoshenko denies this.
The current administration, which took over after Tymoshenko lost to Yanukovich in 2010, says the agreement was a sell-out of national interests, though it is abiding by its terms.
Cases are pending against Tymoshenko over alleged misuse of government funds.
Tymoshenko, who faces up to 10 years in prison if found guilty on abuse of power charges, has dismissed the case as a "mock trial" orchestrated by President Viktor Yanukovich's camp to get rid of his main political rival.
The case has raised concerns in the European Union with which Ukraine wants to sign an association agreement in order to attract badly needed foreign investment and ease dependence of Russia.
Tymoshenko, 50, lectured judge Rodion Kireyev on criminal law, refused to stand up while addressing him and called the trial a farce.
Having brought in a new lawyer, she asked the court to give him one month to study the case but was granted time only until July 6.
"This means that tomorrow he will need to read over 4,000 pages," Tymoshenko told the court during the hearings, which were broadcast live on local television. "Is this justice? No, this is not justice."
The prosecution alleges that Tymoshenko, who was twice prime minister, abused her power in the signing of a 2009 gas import deal with Russia that ended a price row which briefly disrupted Russian gas supplies to Western Europe via Ukraine.
It says that, without consulting her government, she forced the then-head of state-owned Naftogaz to sign the gas deal with Russia's Gazprom. Tymoshenko denies this.
The current administration, which took over after Tymoshenko lost to Yanukovich in 2010, says the agreement was a sell-out of national interests, though it is abiding by its terms.
Cases are pending against Tymoshenko over alleged misuse of government funds.
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