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Hearing of former Ukrainian PM Tymoshenko postponed

17 August 2013 21:54 (UTC +04:00)

The court in the city of Kharkiv on Friday, postponed the hearing of the former premier for the 21st time, due to Tymoshenko’s absence.

Judge Konstantin Sadovsky scheduled Tymoshenko’s next hearing for September 6.

Tymoshenko refused to show up at court as a result of poor health condition.

She is currently receiving medical treatment for chronic back pain at a local hospital.

The former leader of the country’s Orange Revolution has been convicted of overstepping her authority while negotiating a gas deal with Russia in 2009.

She says she's innocent and accuses Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych of throwing her in jail to bar her from last October's parliamentary elections.

She has also been charged of embezzling an estimated USD 405 million and evading tax worth over USD 87,000.

Tymoshenko has denied the allegations, saying the charges against her are politically motivated and that Ukraine has returned to the dark days of Stalinism.

She was sentenced to seven years in prison in 2011.

If found guilty in the second trial in court, Tymoshenko could face up to 12 years in jail.