KYIV, October 11, 2011 (UKRINFORM). Pechersk District Court of Kyiv has on Tuesday, October 11, produced a verdict on the former Prime Minister, leader of the opposition party Batkivshchyna, Yulia Tymoshenko, sentencing her to seven years in prison, under Article 365, part 3, the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Judge Rodion Kireyev said Tymoshenko's guilt of abuse of office when signing gas contracts with Russia in 2009 is proved, the convict would also have to pay back the damage she had caused to the state at UAH 1.5 billion (USD 1 - UAH 7.97). She was also banned for three years to hold positions in public service. The verdict can be challenged in the Court of Appeals within 15 days. Interrupting the judge, who was reading out the sentence, Tymoshenko said that the country has returned to 1937. Addressing the audience in the court and her supporters who were watching live streaming on TV, she encouraged them to unite and defend Ukraine. "Then the authoritarian regime will be toppled," she said. Speaking about the trial, the ex-Prime Minister said that a "contract verdict demonstrates only the weakness of power". "Glory to Ukraine - Glory to the Heroes!" she said.
0 comments:
Post a Comment