Proscutors deny Tymoshenko abuse

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KIEV, Ukraine, April 30 (UPI) -- A Ukrainian prosecutor denies allegations former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was physically abused while in custody.

Speaking on the television station 5 Channel on Sunday, Vadim Goran of the Ukrainian Prosecutor General's office said allegations Tymoshenko was roughed up by officers of the Kachanovskaya penitentiary while she was being transported to a hospital, "have not been confirmed" during questioning of "medics, workers of the penitentiary system, ambulance medics, hospital doctors and other people who could witness events."

Tymoshenko, who is serving a prison sentence for abuse of power, has been on a hunger strike since April 20 to protest the alleged treatment. Ukrainian media last week published photographs that allegedly confirmed the presence of bruises on her body, the Russian news agency ITAR-Tass reported Monday.