A Ukrainian court has found former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko guilty of abuse of authority for signing gas contracts with Russia and sentenced her Tuesday to seven years in prison. Authorities deployed hundreds of police officers around the court to keep order, state media reported. Dozens of angry Tymoshenko supporters took to the streets of Kiev in August when she was taken into custody. "Dear friends, I just want to say that I disagree with this verdict and I am saying that the year 1937 is  back again," Tymoshenko said in the courtroom Tuesday, making a reference to Josef Stalin's rule when Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union.
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Putin, EU, Amnesty International question the move
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Yulia Tymoshenko calls the charges against her political
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Authorities deploy hundreds of police officers around the court to keep order
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The Russian Foreign Ministry says natural gas agreements with Ukraine were legal
Ukraine
Ukraine
"Gas contracts signed by Russia and @placeholder, after talks with Tymoshenko, fully comply with the laws of Russia, Ukraine and international standards."
Ukraine
Ukraine
"Gas contracts signed by Russia and Ukraine, after talks with Tymoshenko, fully comply with the laws of Russia, @placeholder and international standards."
Ukraine
Ukraine
By accusing Tymoshenko of abusing power when signing a contract for the supply of Russian gas in 2009, the ... court ignored compelling evidence that those gas agreements were designed in strict accordance with the laws of Russia and @placeholder as well as the rules of international law, " it says.
Ukraine
Ukraine
"The trial against Yulia Tymoshenko highlights systemic problems within the justice system in @placeholder, and the conduct of this trial casts doubt over the independence of the judiciary."
Ukraine
Ukraine
Ashton said the EU calls for "competent Ukrainian authorities to ensure a fair, transparent and impartial process in any appeal in the case of Ms. Tymoshenko and in the other trials related to members of the former government" and says "the right of appeal should not be compromised by imposing limitations on the defendants' ability to stand in future elections in @placeholder, including the parliamentary elections scheduled for next year."
Ukraine
Ukraine
@placeholder is buying Russian gas for its domestic consumption and at the same time charges Russia transit fees for all its gas exports going west.