News / Europe

Ukraine: Tymoshenko Trial Delayed

Supporters of the Ukrainian Opposition party hold up photos of the imprisoned former Ukrainian PM, Yulia Tymoshenko, whilst taking part in a rally in Kiev, Ukraine, November 12, 2012.
Supporters of the Ukrainian Opposition party hold up photos of the imprisoned former Ukrainian PM, Yulia Tymoshenko, whilst taking part in a rally in Kiev, Ukraine, November 12, 2012.
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VOA News
A Ukrainian court has delayed the trial of former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who is on a hunger strike, and set a new trial date for November 23.

Tuesday's move was the latest in a series of delays for the trial, in which Tymoshenko is defending against charges of tax evasion and embezzlement.

Tymoshenko, who is already serving a seven-year prison term for abuse of office, says the charges are politically motivated, the results of President Viktor Yanukovych's efforts to eliminate her as a political rival.

The opposition leader and former prime minister began her hunger strike on October 29 to protest what she says were rigged results of Ukraine's parliamentary elections a day earlier. International election observers and the U.S. government have also criticized the vote.

Ukraine's parliament has called for a new election in five disputed districts. Opposition parties rejected a new vote in the five constituencies and insist on recounting of votes in 13 districts, where they claim the results were skewed in favor of the ruling party.

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