KIEV — Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, whose jailing for abuse of power has soured Ukraine's relations with the European Union, had her appeal hearing postponed for five weeks Thursday so doctors can establish whether she is fit to attend.
The high court in Kiev granted a motion by state prosecutors for the hearing to be put back to Aug. 16 pending a medical examination of the 51-year-old.
Tymoshenko, a fierce opponent of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, is on temporary release from prison, being treated for back trouble in a state-run hospital.
Jailed for seven years in 2011, she denies wrongdoing and says she is the victim of a personal vendetta by Yanukovych. Western governments have condemned her treatment as "selective justice," and the EU has responded by shelving agreements with Ukraine on free trade and political ties.
The case relates to a 2009 gas deal with Russia that Tymoshenko brokered as prime minister, and that Yanukovych's government says saddled Ukraine with an exorbitant price for gas imports.
In a separate trial due to restart on July 23, she faces separate charges of tax evasion and embezzlement dating back to the 1990s, when she was a prominent businesswoman.
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.
Remind me later.
