Former Ukrainian prime minister arrested
Updated: 2011-08-05 22:55
(Xinhua)
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| Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko speaks during a session of the Higher Administrative Court in central Kiev in this February 19, 2010 file photograph. An Ukrainian court ordered Tymoshenko's detention on August 5, 2011, following a state prosecutor's motion to take her into custody during her trial on charges of abuse of office. The prosecution, which accuses Tymoshenko of illegally forcing state energy company Naftogaz to sign a gas supply contract with Russia in 2009, has said Tymoshenko was disturbing the courtroom proceedings. She has denied the charges.[Photo/Agencies] |
KIEV -- Former Ukrainian prime minister and now opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko was arrested Friday for violations of court processes during her abuse-of-power trial, the local Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported.
According to the agency, the trial judge said, "Systemic violations of the accused, in particular, her interference with the questioning of witnesses" were the grounds for her arrest.
The judge also said the defendant had deliberately delayed the process, repeatedly objected to her address being read out and had not warned the court about her being late for an August 5 hearing.
The prosecution accuses Tymoshenko of signing a gas supply deal with Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom in 2009, which caused damages to the Ukrainian economy.