You're reading: Top Tymoshenko lawyer loses parliamentary immunity

The top lawyer for jailed former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has been stripped of parliamentary immunity and his seat in the Ukrainian legislature, in a move that is likely to further strain Kiev's ties with the West. 

Serhiy Vlasenko, Tymoshenko’s main defense lawyer and close ally, has accused the authorities of preparing to arrest him in order to deprive Ukraine’s top opposition leader of qualified legal defense. The United States and the European Union have warned Kiev against this move.

Ukraine’s Highest Administrative Court on Wednesday ruled to strip Vlasenko of his legislative seat on the ground that he illegally combined the jobs of a legislator and a lawyer.

Vlasenko denies the charges, saying he defended Tymoshenko for free.