Ukraine ex-PM jailed for power abuse
Yulia Tymoshenko
A Ukrainian judge yesterday sentenced former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko to seven years in jail for abusing her powers in a 2009 gas deal with Russia, a verdict that is set to harm ties with the European Union.
Amid emotional scenes in the packed court, judge Rodion Kireyev said the 10 year contract for gas imports from Russia had sustained heavy losses for Ukraine and ruled that her actions were criminal.
"The court rules that YV Tymoshenko intentionally used her powers to criminal ends," Kireyev said in his judgement. "The court finds her guilty and sentences her to seven years in prison."
Kireyev said Tymoshenko sustained a loss to state gas firm Naftogaz of 1.5 billion hryvnia ($190 million) by agreeing the 10 year contract.
He also ruled that Tymoshenko would herself have to pay back the losses sustained.
EU officials have warned that a conviction would severely jeopardise Ukraine's hopes of signing an association agreement with the European Union this year which would be a first step towards its goal of joining the bloc.
The former Orange Revolution leader immediately denounced what she said was a verdict ordered by her arch enemy Viktor Yanukovych.
"We will fight and defend my good name in the European court," Tymoshenko said. "We have to be strong and defend Ukraine from this authoritarianism."
Tymoshenko insists that the case is a vendetta pursued by Yanukovych to eliminate her from politics after their tight tussle in 2010 presidential elections.
Hundreds of Tymoshenko supporters gathered outside the court in central Kiev in a tense standoff with security forces as the verdict was read out.
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