( CNN ) -- A top European Union official expressed concern Thursday about the condition of former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko , saying she was roughed up in prison . Tymoshenko is serving a seven-year sentence after last year 's conviction on a charge of abuse of authority . The two-time prime minister said Tuesday she was beaten unconscious in prison last week , but the prosecutor said his office investigated her claim and found no proof to substantiate her allegations . Thursday , however , the spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Tymoshenko 's claim was confirmed . `` Today the Ukrainian Ombudsperson 's Office confirmed that Ms. Tymoshenko was subjected to physical violence during the transfer from her cell to a hospital on 20 April , '' read a statement from Ashton 's office . Ashton called on Ukraine `` to examine promptly and impartially any complaints of torture or other forms of cruel , inhuman or degrading treatment , '' according to the statement . Tymoshenko went on a hunger strike after the beating to draw attention to `` violence and lack of rights '' in her country . Ashton 's statement said she is `` seriously concerned '' about Tymoshenko 's hunger strike . She asked Ukraine to allow the EU ambassador and independent medical specialists to visit the former prime minister in prison . Tymoshenko said she was discussing with officials a transfer to a hospital for health reasons before the beating . In a statement , Tymoshenko said that on Friday evening , after her cell mate left the cell , `` three sturdy men '' entered , threw a bed sheet over her , dragged her off the bed and applied `` brutal force . '' `` In pain and despair , I started to defend myself as I could and got a strong blow in my stomach through the bed sheet , '' she said in a statement . Tymoshenko was dragged `` into the street , '' she said . `` I thought these were the last minutes of my life . In unbearable pain and fear I started to cry and call out for help , but no help came . '' She fell unconscious , and when she came to , she was in a hospital ward , she said . Last October , a Ukrainian court found Tymoshenko guilty of abuse of authority for signing overpriced gas contracts with Russia and sentenced her to the seven-year prison term . The prosecutor said the gas deals inflicted damages to the country amounting to more than 1.5 billion hryvnas ( almost $ 190 million at the current exchange rate ) . The court ruled she must repay the money . Amnesty International has slammed the verdict as `` politically motivated '' and called for the release of Tymoshenko , who was prime minister from January to September 2005 and December 2007 to March 2010 .
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton says she is concerned . Ashton : " I am very worried about the situation in Ukraine and we are following it with great concern. Tymoshenko went on a hunger strike after the beating . She is serving a 7-year sentence for abuse of authority .