A Ukrainian court yesterday adjourned the high-profile tax evasion trial of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko until mid-July, a move that will spare Kiev further negative publicity during the Euro 2012 soccer tournament.
Western outrage over Ms Tymoshenko’s prosecution – which she says is a politically motivated witch hunt – has already prompted some European politicians to boycott matches at the championship, which Ukraine is co-hosting with Poland.
In a hearing in Kharkiv, Judge Kostyantyn Sadovsky adjourned further hearings into the tax evasion case until July 10th at the request of state prosecutors, ordering a medical examination of Ms Tymoshenko (51) in order to establish whether she is fit to attend her own trial.
Receiving treatment for back trouble in a state-run hospital in the same city, the co-leader of the country’s 2004 Orange Revolution has said she is not well enough to be present.
Ms Tymoshenko was not present at the brief hearing yesterday, but dozens of her supporters rallied outside the building chanting “Free Yulia!”. – (Reuters)