Ukraine's former PM Tymoshenko arrested

Ukraine's former PM Tymoshenko arrested

2011-08-05 23:21:48 GMT+7 (ICT)

KIEV (BNO NEWS) -- Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was arrested on Friday during a court hearing over charges of abuse of power in connection with a 2009 gas deal with Russia, according to a report on her official website.

A brawl erupted in the Pechersky District Court in Kiev between Tymoshenko supporters and police officers after judge Rodion Kireyev granted the prosecution's request to arrest the former leader. According to her official website, parliamentarian Serhiy Vlasenko, who earlier acted as Tymoshenko's defense attorney, attempted to break through a police cordon to approach her, but a number of police officers prevented him from doing so.

The arrest came after prosecutor Lilia Frolova asked the court to keep Tymoshenko, who had only faced travel restrictions, in custody, saying that she had obstructed the investigation into the case. Tymoshenko responded: "Better to shoot me right away, give her a gun."

The prosecution request for Tymoshenko's arrest was made after a heated debate between her and Prime Minister Mykola Azarov, who testified in the case, as reported by the Kyiv Post.

The former prime minister is accused of illegally forcing state energy company Naftogaz to sign a gas supply contract with Russian gas company Gazprom in 2009, which the state says required approval of the Cabinet of Ministers. The agreement ended a three-week standoff between Russia and Ukraine over the price of natural gas.

Tymoshenko, the country's top opposition leader, has criticized her trial as an attempt by President Viktor Yanukovych, who narrowly beat her in the presidential election in February 2010, to bar her from elections.

The court adjourned the hearing until August 8, according the Kyiv Post.

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