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Ukraine High Court Denies Tymoshenko Appeal


Supporters of Ukraine's jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko hold up posters of Tymoshenko, during a rally near the high court building in Kiev, August 29, 2012.
Supporters of Ukraine's jailed former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko hold up posters of Tymoshenko, during a rally near the high court building in Kiev, August 29, 2012.
Ukraine's high court has rejected former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko's appeal against her conviction on charges of abuse of office.

A judge said Wednesday the court could not approve the appeal by Tymoshenko, who is serving a seven-year sentence.

The ruling comes a day after her lawyers argued before the European Court for Human Rights that she was held before her trial illegally and under inhumane conditions.

The charges are linked to a natural gas deal she brokered with Russia in 2009 while serving as prime minister.

She faces separate charges of embezzlement and tax evasion. A trial in that case is expected to resume September 11.

Tymoshenko was a co-leader of the 2004 pro-democracy Orange Revolution. She says both cases are part of a political vendetta against her by President Viktor Yanukovych, who narrowly defeated her in a 2010 vote.

Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
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