Second Tymoshenko trial deferred to 10 July

A Kharkiv court postponed the second trial of former Prime Minister and opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko until 10 July. It also allowed an application from the Prosecutor and ordered a forensic medical examination to determine whether Ms Tymoshenko is able to be present at the court hearings.

As reported already, one of the German doctors treating Ms Tymoshenko stated on Sunday that moving his patient could cause her harm.

The new examination is supposed to determine how serious and long-lasting Yulia Tymoshenko’s illness is and whether it impedes her from absorbing verbal and written information. The court’s announcement was met with shouts of “Shame!”.

On Sunday, Yulia Tymoshenko wrote a statement informing that she was not planning to be at the court hearing into the case involving the activities of the United Energy Systems of Ukraine Corporation.  This new prosecution first received major television coverage in October 2011, about two days after Ms Tymosehnko’s conviction and 7 year sentence over the 2009 gas accords. The conviction was condemned by all democratic countries as politically motivated.

In the new prosecution, Ms Tymoshenko is accused of organizing concealment of foreign currency profit of over 155 million USD; illegal compensation with public funding and tax evasion amounting to over 47 million UAH through financial machinations.  This more overtly “criminal case” has been met with scepticism by the international community.

The BBC Ukrainian Service reports that the hearing on Monday began at around 10.00 with the courtroom equipped with six plasma screens for viewing videos from video equipment also set up.

The place where Ms Tymoshenko was supposed to sit had been cordoned off with glass (unlike during normal court hearings where defendants in custody are behind bars – translator). The cubicle has a table, computer, microphone and even a flower pot.

Tymoshenko’s lawyer, MP Serhiy Vlasenko appeared at the court together with observers from the European Parliament Oleksandr Kwaśniewski and Pet Koks who visited the former Prime Minister on Sunday.