Ukraine's former Yulia Tymoshenko listens as Judge Rodion Kireyev of the Kiev Pechersky court renders his verdict on her case on October 11, 2011.
KIEV, Ukraine - A Ukrainian court has found the country's former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko guilty of abusing power, sentencing her to seven years in prison.The judge handed down the sentence after a three-month long trial, saying Tymoshenko has overstepped her authority in a natural gas import contract with Russia in 2009, Reuters reported on Tuesday.
- Judge Rodion Kireyev explained that Tymoshenko had turned to “criminal ends” by forcing the state energy firm Naftogaz into signing the USD 188 million deal.
- Tymoshenko, however, dismissed the allegations as fabrications, saying she would contest the verdict at European courts.
The ruling was condemned by several European officials, calling it a political showcase, as well as Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.According to Putin, it is dangerous and counterproductive to cast the entire package of agreements into doubt.
Meanwhile, some minor clashes erupted outside the courthouse between security forces and Tymoshenko's supporters.Source: PressTV
Meanwhile, some minor clashes erupted outside the courthouse between security forces and Tymoshenko's supporters.Source: PressTV
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