The head of the defense team of former Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko, Serhiy Vlasenko, has said that if Tymoshenko is interrogated on Thursday, Nov. 10, such actions can be qualified as torture because of her poor health.
"I do not know the diagnosis, but as far as I know she was recommended bed rest, instead of staying in the premises where the temperature is below 14-15 degrees (Centigrade)… She has spine problems, as the prison service announced. All this time, she could barely get out of bed, she cannot move independently," Vlasenko said on Wednesday after a visit to Tymoshenko in jail, where he spent about four hours.
According to him, the investigators plan to question Tymoshenko on Nov. 10.
When asked whether such actions are lawful given the poor health of the ex-premier, Vlasenko, said: "I believe that the questioning of a person, who cannot move independently, can be qualified as a torture."
Vlasenko also said that he had spent about three hours waiting to be cleared to see Tymoshenko, given her poor health. She emerged supported by two prison guards as she could not walk on her own, he added.
"Her condition has worsened seriously, which is connected with the living conditions at the prison," he said.
Tymoshenko was examined by doctors, who offered her their recommendations. "Despite that, investigators from the tax police continued to insist on further investigation. Tomorrow the investigators will most probably insist on questioning her at the prison," Vlasenko said.
"How can a person who is in bed and cannot walk be questioned?" he said.
It’s cold in the cell, he said, adding that he felt he was freezing as he was waiting for Tymoshenko to appear.
Ukraine’s prison service claimed there are no contradictions to Tymoshenko’s questioning, according to earlier reports. "Tymoshenko is being observed by the medical personnel of the Kyiv prison," a prison service source said.
Copies of the resolution to start four criminal cases, connected with the Unified Energy Systems of Ukraine company, have been handed to Tymoshenko already.
