Ukrainian ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko went on trial on Wednesday charged with abuse of power in a case that has raised Western concerns over President Viktor Yanukovich's commitment to democracy and the rule of law.
Western reaction is important since Ukraine, a major grain and steel exporter, badly needs outside investment and is negotiating a free trade deal with the European Union.
After about an hour of wrangling on Wednesday, Tymoshenko’s hearing was adjourned until Monday, July 4.
Wearing her trademark peasant-style hairbraid, the 50-year-old political firebrand was in typically combative mood, accusing the judge of being in Yanukovich’s pocket and refusing to cooperate with court formalities.
Asked by judge Rodion Kireyev to identify herself to the Kyiv court, she curtly retorted: "I gave you my passport. Read it yourself."
Tymoshenko, who lost a bitter election battle for the presidency against Yanukovych in February 2010, says the court action is part of a vendetta by her arch-rival.
"Everything that is happening today is political revenge," she said, denouncing the court as a "department of the presidential administration".
"Their (the presidential administration) aim is to isolate me from being able to unite the people of Ukraine."
The prosecution alleges that Tymoshenko, who was twice prime minister, abused her power in the signing of a 2009 gas import agreement with Russia.
It says that, without consulting her government, she forced the then-head of state-owned Naftogaz to sign the gas deal with Russia’s Gazprom . Tymoshenko denies this.
The 2009 accord ended a gas-pricing dispute with Russia that had led to cuts in supplies of gas to parts of Western Europe along pipelines which pass through Ukraine.
The current administration, which took over after Tymoshenko lost her bid for the presidency in 2010, says the agreement was a sell-out of national interests, though it is abiding by its terms.
FORMER ASSOCIATES ALSO TARGETED
Tymoshenko said at the weekend that she faced a jail term of between 7 and 10 years. Some close to her expect her to be given a suspended sentence, which would still limit her ability to be politically active in opposition.
A separate case is pending against Tymoshenko over alleged misuse of government funds received in exchange for emission quotas sold to Japan under the Kyoto protocol.
Since Yanukovych came to power, several of Tymoshenko’s former associates have been prosecuted for alleged offences in office and at least one has fled Ukraine.
Western governments have not come down publicly on her side. But visiting politicians from the European Union have told the Yanukovych leadership they are concerned over the possible use of "selective justice" in the former Soviet republic.
Tymoshenko became known as the "gas princess" in the late 1990s as owner of a company which bought and sold Russian gas.
Her fiery oratory and glamorous style turned her into an international figure in 2004 when she led the "Orange Revolution" street demonstrations that ultimately doomed Yanukovich’s first bid for the presidency.
She went on to serve two terms as prime minister under ex-President Viktor Yushchenko, her Orange Revolution ally.
But early last year, with many people disillusioned by the "orange" leadership and infighting between Tymoshenko and Yushchenko, Yanukovych emerged victorious in the election.
While still highly popular in many parts of the country, Tymoshenko has failed to unite other opposition politicians around her.
