You're reading: Prison service: Tymoshenko cannot get treatment abroad without changes to legislation

Ukraine's State Penitentiary Service has said that former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who is serving her prison term in Kharkiv, cannot be sent abroad for treatment without changes being made to the existing legislation.

"This would be unprecedented, as no prisoners from other countries come to us to get treatment, and our prisoners do not travel abroad. [This cannot happen] unless the legislation is changed," the head of the health department of the penitentiary service, Yevhen Poliakov, said at a press conference on March 27.

According to Poliakov, Tymoshenko is already moving with the help of a walker within her cell. Recently, she has been moving much more, he said.

"It’s no secret that Yulia Volodymyrivna is using a walker within her cell," he said.

Poliakov added that the international medical team has prescribed a complex of procedures for Tymoshenko, and only one of them cannot be held on the territory of the prison. The ex-premier was offered a list of medical institutions in Kharkiv where she could get the treatment.