Tymoshenko charged with murder compliance

Empty Tymoshenko's place at EPP Summit

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The former Ukrainian Prime Minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, is charged with 1996 murder of Yefhen Shcherban, who was a member of parliament and one of the richest people in the Ukraine.

Shcherban and his wife were killed at the Donetsk airport. The murderers, who were dressed as police officers, stated in their confession that they received $1 million for the murder. The bank account that paid for the deed was linked to Tymoshenko and Pavlo Lazarenko, who was at that time Ukraine´s Prime Minister.

Tymoshenko considers the charges against her absurd and politically driven. 

After almost three weeks of hunger strike due to the alleged mistreatment in prison, where she serves a 7-year sentence for tax fraud, Tymoshenko has recently been treated by German doctors in a hospital in Ukraine.

Deputy Prosecutor General, Renat Kuzmin, who is responsible for Tymoshenko's case, insists that the whole issue has been deliberately blown out of proportion and that Tymoshenko has simulated being beaten or ill.  

Tymoshenko's case has, however, caused international concerns about the abuse of her human rights and has cast a shadow over the Euro 2012 football cup held in the Ukraine and Poland.