Ukraine: Tymoshenko sent to hospital

KIEV, Ukraine, May 9 (UPI) -- Yulia Tymoshenko, Ukraine's former prime minister, has been transferred to a hospital where she will be treated by a German doctor, prison officials said.

Tymoshenko, who was jailed in December, was moved Wednesday from the Kachanivska prison in Kharkiv to Central Clinical Hospital No. 5, Interfax-Ukraine reported. She traveled by train.

"Tymoshenko did not express complaints when she was being transported to the clinic. Doctors said her condition had not worsened compared to the previous days," the State Penitentiary Service was quoted as saying in a statement. "As planned, she will be treated by Dr. Lutz Harms of the Charite Clinic, Germany, jointly with Ukrainian medical personnel."

Expatica-Ukraine said Radio Liberty has confirmed reports that Tymoshenko was diagnosed with a spinal hernia.

Tymoshenko was sentenced last fall to seven years in prison for abusing her authority in the signing of gas contracts between Ukraine and Russia in 2009.