Tymoshenko remains jailed

KIEV, Ukraine, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- An appeals court in Ukraine said there was "no grounds" to investigate the judicial proceedings of Yulia Tymoshenko's case, a decision that keeps her in jail.

Tymoshenko is serving a seven-year prison sentence on charges she abused her power when, as prime minister, she helped broker a 2009 natural gas deal with Russian energy company Gazprom.

An appeals court in Kiev opted to keep the opposition leader jailed. She was unable to appear in person before the court because of unspecified health problems.

"There are no grounds for conducting a judicial investigation at the current stage," appeals court Judge Yelena Sitailo was quoted by Russia's state-run news agency RIA Novosti as saying.

Tymoshenko's supporters believe the charges against her are part of a political move by the pro-Kremlin government in Kiev.

European officials blasted her October sentencing but this week suggested moving closer to Kiev might give the European community more leverage over the political climate in the country.

Tymoshenko's lawyer, Serhiy Vlasenko, was quoted on her Web site as saying there is "no independent judiciary" in the country.

"President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovych is not a European leader but a Ukrainian dictator," he added.