Courtroom defiance

Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko denounced her trial on Thursday as a clear-cut case of "political lynching."

The ex-premier emphatically protested her innocence as she gave her final statement in a trial which could see her jailed for seven years.

"This trial is a classic case of political lynching," said Tymoshenko, who chose to stand up after weeks of remaining seated in defiance of the judge. "No document has ever proved any guilt. They [the authorities] have falsified this entire affair."

"You should have already brought in an acquittal sentence and ended this humiliation of Ukraine," she added, addressing the judge, "but the show goes on."

Tymoshenko stands accused of abuse of office for signing a 10-year gas deal with Russia in January 2009. Ukraine's president Viktor Yanukovych has claimed this saddled the country with an exorbitant gas price.

Europe concerned

The 50-year-old former premier denies the charges, and has insisted she is the victim of a political vendetta from political rival Yanukovych who narrowly beat her in an election in February 2010.

"The president considers me to be his most dangerous political rival," said Tymoshenko.

"We have to defend ourselves against political repression. I acted legally and did not give up a centimeter of Ukrainian territory."

Her statement, which she said was addressed to the Ukrainian people and not the court, was met was loud applause from members of parliament in her faction who were squeezed into the courthouse.

Tymoshenko's lawyers said they expect an end to the presentation of evidence on Friday and a verdict by mid-October.

The European Union and United States have both declared that the trial, which began in June, is politically motivated and have warned Yanukovych to drop the charges against Tymoshenko.

During a visit to an EU summit in Poland on Thursday, however, Yanukovych avoided any questions on the case.

Author: Charlotte Chelsom-Pill (Reuters, AFP, dpa)
Editor: Martin Kuebler