The show trial of ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has brought enlightening moments.

The world can now more clearly see that ex-President Viktor Yushchenko precipitated the January 2009 gas crisis with Russia by defending the private interests of gas trader RosUkrEnergo.

Far from being the democratic and honest politician who became an international hero for leading the 2004 Orange Revolution, Yushchenko has lost his credibility.

As more comes out about his five-year presidency, we expect people will conclude what we reluctantly and tardily did a few years ago: That Yushchenko is not a truthful man and that he is a major reason for the public’s lack of trust in politicians and disappointment.

Nobody expected anything more or better from President Viktor Yanukovych, or from ex-President Leonid Kuchma, for that matter. But from Yushchenko, we all did.

Ex-President Leonid Kravchuk said that all four of the nation’s presidents “intervened and are intervening in the energy sector, even when they did not and do not have any grounds to do so.

Nobody expected anything more or better from President Viktor Yanukovych, or from ex-President Leonid Kuchma, for that matter. But from Yushchenko, we all did.

” About Yushchenko, Kravchuk said: “He’s one of the guilty ones, and he should sit in the dock next to Tymoshenko.”

First Oleh Dubyna, the former head of the state gas monopoly Naftogaz, said that Yushchenko appeared to be interfering in gas talks with Russia to keep RosUkrEnergo in the mix as an intermediary – despite questions about the transparency, beneficiaries and necessity of the gas trader in the bilateral trade.

Dubyna also said that Yushchenko obstructed in late 2008 a chance for Tymoshenko to clinch a better deal with the Kremlin. Ex-Interior Minister Yuriy Lutsenko also corroborated this account, despite Yushchenko’s denials.

The testimony is consistent with what transpired in the winter of 2008-2009, when Russia cut off gas to Ukraine in a price dispute. While Tymoshenko may be no prize as a politician, she doesn’t deserve to be on trial or in jail for this issue.

If anybody should be investigated on the gas trade, Kravchuk is right: Let’s begin with the nation’s four presidents, including Yushchenko and Yanukovych.