Tymoshenko ignores prison head, refuses to go to UESU case hearing, says prison service
Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has again refused to participate in the court hearing of the criminal case on the activities of the United Energy Systems of Ukraine Corporation (UESU) on Friday, according to the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine.
"Head of the Kachanivska Penal Colony No. 54 Ihor Kolpaschykov has read aloud to convict Tymoshenko summon to Kharkiv's Kyivsky District Court for the participation in the court hearing on March 22. The convict refused to talk about her transportation to the courtroom for the participation in the hearing. She sat with her back to the prison head and did not answer at all when asked whether she was ready to go to the court," reads the statement.
According to the prison service, Tymoshenko handed over to Kolpaschykov a statement reading that she sees no reason for her participation in the trial and demands that the court consider her motions.
As reported, a preliminary hearing of the case was held on April 19, 2012. Tymoshenko did not attend any of those hearings.
Tymoshenko is charged under five counts in the UESU case.
On October 11, 2011, Kyiv Pechersky District Court sentenced Tymoshenko to seven years in prison for exceeding her powers when signing gas supply contracts with Russia in 2009. She has served her sentence in the Kharkiv Kachanivska Penal Colony since late December 2011.
Tymoshenko is currently undergoing treatment at Kharkiv-based Central Clinical Hospital No. 5.
On March 5, 2013, Kyivsky District Court of Kharkiv adjourned the hearing of the criminal case on the activities of the United Energy Systems of Ukraine Corporation (UESU) until 1000 on March 22.
