KIEV, Ukraine, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- A decision by a Ukrainian court to give opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko until Sept. 27 to prepare for debates proves their case is weak, she claims.
Tymoshenko, an opposition leader and former prime minister, is on trial facing corruption charges stemming from a 2009 gas deal she helped broker with Russian energy company Gazprom. Her rivals in the Ukrainian government said the deal resulted in substantial economic loss for the country.
The court last week said it had moved the trial to the debate phase. On Monday, the court adjourned until Sept. 27 to give Tymoshenko and her defense team time to prepare.
She said in statements posted on her Web site that she didn't break any laws. She added the unexpected adjournment showed the case against her was weak.
"I can say that this proves that the case has fallen apart. The case has hit a dead end," she said. "Their concept of political repression has fallen apart completely."
Washington and European officials have said Kiev is practicing selective justice in its prosecution of Tymoshenko. Her lawyer added in statements last week that the case against her was invalid.
