Ukraine starts hearing Tymoshenko appeal

A high court in Ukraine Thursday began hearing the appeal of opposition leader and ex-premier Yulia Tymoshenko against her jailing on abuse of power charges the West says are politically motivated. The judges questioned Tymoshenko's five lawyers, who argued that she should be released because no crime had been committed, as dozens of her supporters shouted "Freedom to Yulia" outside the courtroom. The judges also heard a representative of the state energy company Naftogaz and a prosecutor, who both called for the appeal to be rejected. Tymoshenko is currently being treated for a back condition in a state hospital and was not present in court. Judge Stanislav Mishchenko then adjourned proceedings until 10 am (0700 GMT) Tuesday, when the court is due to hear the opinion of a second prosecutor before giving a final ruling on the case. Jailed since August 2011, Tymoshenko was sentenced in October to seven years for abuse of power as prime minister by signing a gas contract with Russia that Ukraine decided was against its interests at the time. "There is no proof of Tymoshenko's guilt," her lawyer Sergiy Vlasenko told journalists after the hearing. If the court does not release Tymoshenko, she will be able to refer the case to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) in Strasbourg, France. To do this, she must first have exhausted all the legal options in Ukraine. "We hope to get the judgement on August 21, which will open the way for us to the European Court of Human Rights," said Vlasenko. Tymoshenko has already appealed to the ECHR over the circumstances of her arrest and her treatment in a case that is due to be heard on August 28. One of the leaders of the Orange Revolution in Ukraine in 2004, Tymoshenko has always condemned her prosecution as personal revenge on the part of President Viktor Yanukovych, elected in 2010. The Tymoshenko case has prompted serious rifts between Kiev and the West, which sees it as a political trial and calls for the ex-premier's release.