30 September 2011
Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said she acted within the confines of law and in the interests of Ukraine during gas contract negotiations with Russia in 2009, according to her website. She faces up to seven years in prison for her role in the talks, which the current government views as unfavorable to Ukraine. Tymoshenko said that she would have done the same thing again today to resolve the bilateral gas dispute, which shut off the flow of gas to Europe for 13 days in January 2009. Ukrainian officials have come under considerable international pressure to drop the case against Tymoshenko and allow her to compete in upcoming parliamentary elections in 2012. The trial will resume today with both sides presenting closing comments, after which the judge will deliberate before reaching a verdict.