Tymoshenko says charges a 'disgrace'

KIEV, Ukraine, Jan. 19 (UPI) -- Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko called on prosecutors in Kiev to drop corruption charges filed against her.

Tymoshenko is charged with misusing federal money meant for environmental projects to pay for pension funds during her tenure as prime minister. The opposition leader told reporters she asked prosecutors to drop the charges, however.

"By law, they have three days to reply and I hope that the investigators, who understand all too well the absurdity of the charges, will close the criminal case," she was quoted by Russia's state-run news agency RIA Novosti as saying.

Tymoshenko, in a message posted on her Web site, complained before heading back to court Wednesday that she had nothing more to say to prosecutors.

"I have repeatedly said the same thing in different configurations," she was quoted as saying.

Tymoshenko, who lost a bitter election campaign to President Viktor Yanukovych, denies misusing federal money. She said the accusations are part of a smear campaign launched by her political rival.

"This is all President Yanukovych's doing," she said in a statement. "It is a personal disgrace."

Critics said Kiev is trying to divert attention from an unpopular move on pension reform by targeting Tymoshenko.