Support The Moscow Times!

Ukraine Delays Tymoshenko Trial

KHARKIV, Ukraine — The tax evasion trial of Yulia Tymoshenko was put off until July 23 due to the former Ukrainian prime minister's inability to attend hearings on health grounds, a Kharkiv court ruled Tuesday.

Tymoshenko, sentenced to seven years in prison last October on a separate abuse-of-office charge, is being treated for back trouble in a state-run hospital.

Tymoshenko denies wrongdoing. She has said she is not well enough to attend the court proceedings.

Judge Kostyantyn Sadovsky adjourned further hearings into the tax evasion case because court-appointed doctors had yet to complete Tymoshenko's examination and establish whether she is fit to attend her own trial.

The conviction of Tymoshenko, a political opponent of President Viktor Yanukovych, has soured Ukraine's ties with the European Union, which sees the ruling as an example of selective justice.

Sign up for our free weekly newsletter

Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview
Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy

A Message from The Moscow Times:

Dear readers,

We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."

These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.

We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.

Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.

By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.

Once
Monthly
Annual
Continue
paiment methods
Not ready to support today?
Remind me later.

Read more