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European Court to Hear Tymoshenko Case


Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is pictured during her trial, at the Pecherskiy District Court in Kiev, Ukraine, October 11, 2011
Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is pictured during her trial, at the Pecherskiy District Court in Kiev, Ukraine, October 11, 2011
Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is appealing to the European Court of Human Rights against her imprisonment by Ukraine on charges of abuse of office.

Tuesday's hearing comes a day before Ukraine's high court is expected to rule on her appeal against her conviction and seven-year sentence.

The abuse of office charges are linked to a natural gas deal she brokered with Russia in 2009 while she was serving as prime minister.

She also faces separate charges of embezzlement and tax evasion, in a trial expected to resume September 11.

Tymoshenko, a co-leader of the 2004 pro-democracy Orange Revolution, says both cases amount to a political vendetta against her by President Viktor Yanukovych, who won a narrow victory over her in 2010 voting.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
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