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The deputy head of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's political party claims Tymoshenko's life is in danger. Apparently, poor care by prison authorities is contributing to an attempt - quote unquote - "to kill" her.
The deputy head of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko's political party says that Tymoshenko's life is in danger.
Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday, he said Tymoshenko's health is failing and she's not getting satisfactory care at the prison where she is serving a seven-year sentence.
The 51-year-old is being held in a prison in Kharkiv some 300 miles away from the capital Kyiv.
[Oleksander Turchinov, Deputy Head Batkivshchyna Party]:
"On Friday, January 6, at approximately 22:30, Yulia Volodymyrivna Tymoshenko suddenly fainted right after taking medicine given to her by prison staff for her cold. For 20 minutes, her cell mate was bumping into the door trying to call medical staff. Only after the 24:00 they (medical staff) managed to overcome her critical condition and bring her back to life."
Tymoshenko, a charismatic politician, helped lead the 2004 Orange Revolution street protests which thwarted a first bid for the presidency by Viktor Yanukovich.
She went on to serve two terms as prime minister.
But, after Yanukovich made a comeback and beat her in an election for the presidency in February 2010, criminal proceedings were brought against her and other members of the opposition.
She was jailed for seven years in October on a charge of exceeding her powers by forcing through a 2009 gas deal with Russia while prime minister.
The Yanukovich government says the deal saddled Ukraine with an exorbitant price for gas.
Her trial was condemned by the United States and the European Union as politically motivated and the affair has...
