Ukraine charges former PM Tymoshenko with tax fraud, embezzlement

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Ukraine charges former PM Tymoshenko with tax fraud, embezzlement

2011-11-12 06:15:58 GMT+7 (ICT)

KIEV (BNO NEWS) -- Ukraine's tax inspectorate on Friday charged former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko with financial crimes, including tax fraud and embezzlement, the Interfax news agency reported.

Tymoshenko was charged with concealing more than $165 million and embezzling budget funds. A tax inspectorate statement said Tymoshenko had avoided paying over 47 million hryvnias ($6 million) in corporate taxes while heading the United Energy Systems of Ukraine, a company which imported Russian natural gas during the 1990s.

Tymoshenko is already serving a seven-year term for abuse of power in connection with a 2009 gas deal with Russia. She was 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.

Tymoshenko was also banned from holding public office for three years after the completion of her prison term and ordered to repay 1.5 billion hryvnia ($190 million) in losses to Ukraine's state oil and gas company. Her prison term started on August 5, when the former premier was taken into custody in the courtroom.

Tymoshenko has claimed her trial is politically motivated and an attempt by President Viktor Yanukovych, who narrowly beat her in the presidential election in February 2010, to bar her from future elections. The international community has largely condemned her previous trial.

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