You're reading: Tymoshenko refuses to attend court hearing of UESU case

Ukraine's former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has refused to take part in a court hearing of a criminal case against her concerning the activities of the United Energy Systems of Ukraine Corporation, which is slated for April 19.

A relevant statement by Tymoshenko was posted on the Web site of the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine on Wednesday.

"Exercising my rights envisaged in the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine, I am asking to for the preliminary hearing of the case to be conducted in my absence due to my poor health," the statement reads.