Court rejects Tymoshenko's release petitions
17:09 08/08/2011 KIEV, August 8 (RIA Novosti) - A Kiev district court rejected release petitions on Monday filed on behalf of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko after her arrest three days ago.
She looked tired after her arrest but did not complain about conditions.
The release appeals were backed by Ukrainian human right ombudsman Nina Karpacheva, her spokesman said.
Tymoshenko was detained on Friday following a motion by prosecutors who accused her of repeatedly disrupting courtroom proceedings during her trial on abuse of office charges.
Ukraine's opposition forces have called for her release and Western countries have expressed concern over her arrest.
Tymoshenko, accused of damaging Ukraine's national interests by signing "unfair" gas supply deals with Russia as prime minister in 2009, faces up to 10 years in prison.
Currently Ukraine's leading opposition figure, she has denied all charges and pointedly ignored courtroom procedures by refusing to stand up when addressing the judge.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Kostyantyn Hryshchenko appeared in Kiev’s Pechyorsky District Court for questioning in the “gas” case.
“The [gas] crisis could have been avoided,” he said in his testimony.
On Friday, Prime Minister Mykola Azarov testified, after which the presiding judge ordered Tymoshenko’s arrest.
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