Ukraine's Security Service (SBU) investigators on Thursday met with former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in the presence of her lawyers, the State Prison Service of Ukraine has reported.
"On the same day [Oct.13], while conducting investigative actions at Kyiv’s detention center, investigators of the Security Service of Ukraine met with Tymoshenko in the presence of her lawyers," the service said in a statement posted on its official Web site.
The report also notes that on Thursday, the service received an official permit from Kyiv’s Pechersky District Court Judge Rodion Kireyev for the provision of consultations to Tymoshenko in jail by the medical staff of the Ukrainian Health Ministry’s institutions, the medical unit of Kyiv’s detention center and a doctor.
No complaints or appeals from Tymoshenko against the leadership of Kyiv’s detention center have been received, the service said.
In addition, the report says that the technical and sanitary condition of the prison cell, in which Tymoshenko is held, is satisfactory.
In particular, the windows and doors are in good condition, while the heating of the jail is provided from the central city heating system.
As of 18.00 on Thursday, the air temperature in Tymoshenko’s cell was 23 degrees Celsius.
The service said that as part of the provision of medical assistance, Tymoshenko had repeatedly met with Health Ministry experts, her personal doctor and the medical staff of the State Prison Service of Ukraine and received respective consultations.
Reports said earlier that a new criminal case has been started against Tymoshenko on charges of reassigning the United Energy Systems of Ukraine company’s debts to the Ukrainian budget.
The new charges were brought against Tymoshenko on Oct. 12, according to the Ukrainian Security Service.
But Oleksandr Turchynov, the first deputy leader of the Batkivschyna Party, said the Ukrainian Security Service had not brought charges connected with the company’s debts against Tymoshenko.
"No charges have been brought against Tymoshenko," he said at a press conference in Kyiv on Thursday.
Tymoshenko’s defense lawyers remained in her cell until 6 p.m. on Wednesday. After they left, at about 19.00, Security Service investigators "attempted to question Tymoshenko or produce some papers to her," but the ex-prime minister refused to talk with them in the absence of her defense lawyers, he said.
