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Tymoshenko convicted, sentenced to 7 years in prison, ordered to pay state $188 million (update)

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Oct. 11, 2011, 12:42 p.m. | Ukraine — by Kyiv Post Staff

Ukrainian riot police officers block supporters of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko outside the Pecherskiy District Court in Kyiv on Oct. 11.

Kyiv Post Staff

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Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has been convicted of exceeding her powers while in office by ordering state energy firm Naftogaz to sign a gas deal with Russia in 2009, a judge ruled on Tuesday.

Judge Rodion Kireyev, reading the verdict for more than four hours, also ordered Tymoshenko imprisoned for seven years and said that she will be required to reimburse the state $188 million in losses caused by the gas contract she negotiated with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

He also banned her from seeking elected office for her period of imprisonment, an order that appears to disqualify her from participation in the 2012 parliamentary and 2015 presidential elections. Tymoshenko's side has said she would appeal a guilty verdict. The judge also ordered her to perform three years of public service work in prison.

The verdict has further strained ties between Ukraine and the West, as it appears that President Viktor Yanukovych has completely ignored strong international pressure to drop the charges and free Tymoshenko. The European Union issued a statement that it was "deeply disappointed" by the verdict. Kireyev said the opposition leader's actions while she was prime minister had led to a loss for Naftogaz of 1.5 billion hryvnias ($188 million). "In January 2009, Tymoshenko, exercising the duties of prime minister ... used her powers for criminal ends and, acting deliberately, carried out actions ... which led to heavy consequences," he said.

After Kireyev read the guilty verdict and sentence, at nearly 1 p.m., Tymoshenko stood up and said she would continue to fight for justice and urged her supporters to do the same for the sake of the nation. "The year 1937 has returned to Ukraine," Tymoshenko said in the courtroom, referring to the Soviet era of Josef Stalin. "Fight for your rights. This is a difficult period for Ukraine."

Tymoshenko, the main political opponent of Yanukovych, was found guilty in connection with a bilateral agreement that ended the three-week 2009 gas shutoff by Russia over a price dispute. The Yanukovych leadership says the 10-year contract has saddled the former Soviet republic with an exorbitant price for vital supplies of Russian gas.

But the EU, one of Ukraine's main trading partners along with Russia, has told Yanukovych that landmark economic agreements will be in jeopardy if she is imprisoned. Yanukovych narrowly beat the charismatic Tymoshenko for the presidency in February 2010, and has not been riding much higher than her in recent polls. She still commands the second largest faction in the national parliament.

Though Russia has rejected charges by the Yanukovych leadership that the deal was dishonestly negotiated, it is in talks with Ukraine on its terms. The Kyiv government says it hopes a new contract will be tied up by the end of the year.

Tymoshenko, 50, who was flanked by her daughter and husband in court, bristled defiance from the outset of the hearing.

"You know very well that the sentence is not being pronounced by Judge Kireyev but by President Viktor Yanukovych," she told journalists before the reading of the judgment. "Whatever the sentence pronounced, my struggle will continue. This sentence, written by Yanukovich, will not change anything in my life or in my struggle."

She also said earlier: "Nobody, not Yanukovych, not Kireyev, can humiliate my honest name. I have worked and will continue to work for Ukraine's sake."

As Kireyev was leaving the courtroom, Tymoshenko's husband Oleksandr yelled out that his time would also come for a similar verdict. One Tymoshenko supporter shouted "Shame!"

The small courtroom was packed with up to a hundred Ukrainian and foreign journalists. In such a hot atmosphere, the judge was literally sweating in front of cameras. He took four short breaks during the reading to ventilate the room. Many did not dare to go outside during these breaks to get a breath of fresh air for the fear of not being let back in.

Like on the streets, the heavily equipped police feared massive protests, so officers heavily protected the yard around the court and filled its corridors.

“[Judge] Kireyev is no one here,” Tymoshenko told the reporters in the court pointing at Yanukovych as the person who made the verdict against her. The ex-premier also said that by convicting her Yanukovych is “consciously hindering the association agreement with the EU.”

Supporters, opponents, police

About 2,000 Tymoshenko supporters, hundreds of riot-conrol police and crowds of anti-Tymoshenko demonstrators who turned out at the behest of the ruling Regions Party gathered outside the court for the final curtain to come down on the trial.

The outcome of the Tymoshenko trial, which opened in late June and has kept political tension high throughout summer, could determine the speed of Ukraine's integration into the European mainstream.

On Monday the EU's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton told reporters: "We are not optimistic about this trial. Our impression remains (that it amounts to) selective application of justice."

Tymoshenko, who has been held in police detention for contempt of court since Aug. 5, has denied any wrongdoing in brokering the 2009 deal which ended a pricing dispute with Russia that had led to disruptions in gas supplies to parts of the EU.

When the judge late last month called an adjournment until Tuesday it was widely seen as a strategic pause to give Yanukovych and his advisers time to consider their options in the face of the Western criticism.

He has maintained her prosecution is a matter for the courts.

EU diplomats have urged Yanukovich to use his powers to "decriminalize" the charge against her -- reclassifying it as an administrative rather than an criminal offence -- to allow her to go free. But the verdict showed there was still no sign of a move in this direction.

Her supporters say Yanukovich wants to neutralise her as a political force before next year's parliamentary election. She and Yanukovych have been at each other's throats since 2004 when Tymoshenko used her PR savvy and rhetoric as a leader of the 2004 Orange Revolution to doom his first bid for presidency.

She went on to hold the post of prime minister twice under former President Viktor Yushchenko who gave evidence against her at her trial.

The election runoff between Yanukovich and Tymoshenko was a particularly bitter affair and she refused to recognise his victory for weeks.

She stepped down finally as prime minister, but has continued to heap scorn on his leadership and on the wealthy industrialists who support him.

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The Kyiv Post is hosting comments to foster lively debate. Criticism is fine, but stick to the issues. Comments that include profanity or personal attacks will be removed from the site. If you think that a posted comment violates these standards, please flag it and alert us. We will take steps to block violators.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 1:10 p.m.

Exit Association Agreement and visa-free travel.

In stead economic embargo....will start.

Ukraine back to Russia.

It was the choice today of Ukraine!

Belarus and Ukraine are now the same......

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 1:19 p.m.

... and this was not a too bad choice for UKRAINE

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 1:11 p.m.

she deserved it

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 1:36 p.m.

How blind are you to the reality of what this means? This is textbook authoritarianism. Yanukovich finally gains power, and has been working on consolidating his power the entire time through the blatant ignorance of the constitution and his appointing of judges, to now this: the elimination of the opposition. He is getting rid of anyone who opposes him. Its sad that a country with so much potential (in natural resources and hard working people) have been hindered by such disgusting leadership (for decades).

The demons of communism... it never seems to end...

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 1:51 p.m.

I COMPLETELY 100% agree with John! How dumb does one have to be to actually believe this is "for good"!!! This is tragic for the country! This whole story has a strong smell of communism...

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 3:33 p.m.

Shame on you too. I think it is more likely than not that you are a paid poster. Have some respect for yourself.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 1:44 p.m.

Yulia for President NOW !!!!

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 1:45 p.m.

If ever people wamted evidence Yanukonvict is bad for Ukarine and its people today just proves it.

Additionally this judge, 31 YEARS OLD, with limited legal experience has passed judgment on a case he has little experience or knowldege of. His judgement just underlines why Ukraine's judiciary is so discredited.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 1:50 p.m.

Yanukockroach picked him because of his inexperience. The judge was a puppet on Cockroaches finger.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 1:51 p.m.

Stop posting such a nonsense !

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 1:53 p.m.

I love your country but your president hes got his way at last !!!!

god bless yulia and her family , 7 years is bad will she get parole from her sentance ? i hope she will fight the sentance and go for election as president

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 1:54 p.m.

yaaaaawn

such a childish comment

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 4:44 p.m.

Yaaaaawning, belching and wetting oneself is an infantile state. One you apparently have not grown out of.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 3:32 p.m.

Please take your cynicism somewhere else.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 6:27 p.m.

yaaaawn

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 6:07 p.m.

How many times do I have to tell you,,,,go back to Siberia, the nights are long , and you can get plent of rest....

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 2:12 p.m.

Why should have a judge at the age of 31 not have sufficient exoerience? When you are young, you have idwals and are mostly not as corrupted as the old nomuclatura.

At the age of 31 you can have a lot of years of practice.

Yuliya Timoschenko did steal in thepast, so who can prove she did not steal from the ukrainian people this time? Taking into account her experience in gas deal making.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 3:35 p.m.

If you have proof that Tymoshenko stole in the past, take it to the SBU.

As for experience; because the judge is young and ambitious, it was easier to corrupt him.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 3:48 p.m.

If you have proof that the judge was corrupted, take it to the SBU.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 4:11 p.m.

The SBU is even more corrupt than the judge.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 4:59 p.m.

That'd be a good line at the comedy club.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 3:30 p.m.

Congratulations to the Kyiv Post for making it all the way through the trial without (apparently) ever having a reporter in the courtroom. Shame on Victor Yanukovych. Shame on the judge. Shame on the prosecutors. Shame on the Kyiv Post.

BS Bonner Oct. 11, 2011, 3:55 p.m.

This commentator is uninformed. The Kyiv Post has had several reporters in the courtroom at various times, including two today inside and three reporters outside, as well as other staff writing from the live TV broadcast. Inside were Yuliya Popova and Yuriy Onyshkiv; outside were Svitlana Tuchynska, Olga Rudenko and Mark Rachkevych. I did rewrite and took quotes from others. The Kyiv Post is not the size of The New York Times, but we do the best with the resources we have.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 4:57 p.m.

I read the KP every day and 90% of the reporting in your paper over the course of the trial was from Interfax or Reuters, mostly Interfax. There were maybe three or four stories over the entire length of the trial that carried a KP byline and most of those were reporting on events outside the courthouse. Even on this story why did you need to include any info from wire reports; why not a byline? I'm ready for you to show me hard facts that I am wrong. I am ready for you to prove that KP covered the most important news event since Independence with the intensity it deserved. And I don't think you would have needed to have the resources of the NY Times, all it would have needed was one reporter who was there every day. Maybe that reporter could have told how physically exhausting it was to be there every day for long hours and short breaks, imagine then going back to a jail cell and trying to prepare a defense for the next day.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 6:03 p.m.

Bravo Harley.......I fully agree with you.

Respectfully Mr Bonner, you have 30 or so reporters. IntUkr make up 70 -80% of KP stories..

Weekly, about 10 or so stories are by 'your' reporters.

A wee bit unbalanced. Do you not think?

Plus,,,,,many many of my posts are deleted. My comments adhere to your guide lines,,,an email from you to me , threatened to block me from posting; as I encourage the cessation of illegal piano voting. The most ourtrageous act against the "Constitution of Ukraine"

Either , you have instructed my posts deleted,,,,,or you have a POR goon in your employ, taking it upon him/her self, to delete anti Yanuk comments, at their descretion.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 3:50 p.m.

God help Ukraine and its people for today they have lost the voice of the only person that really cares for their future. Julia Tymoshenko may not be perfect (but who is) however, she is the only one that has tried to stand up to the criminal opposition that has strangled their own people and turned them into slaves once again. This was V. Yanuk's greatest test. A test in front of the whole world to see just how far he can go. And he has seen that the Ukrainian people will tolerate anything. They no longer care about their future. They don't care to fight for democracy, freedom of speech, freedom to live like human beings. They have shown Yanuk that he can do whatever he pleases and they will not react. They are dead as far as I am concerned. Shame on you Ukraina. You deserve to be a slave nation. You are now truly a Banana Republic and from now on the world sees you as such and will not give you the time of day. You are in the same boat as Belarus, Syria and all the other uncivilized nations and criminals. God help you.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 4:06 p.m.

When is the revolution coming?

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 6:16 p.m.

make it violent revolution with all regione banda against a wall-

sovok style

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 4:07 p.m.

The gas deal was terrible. That doesn't mean the trial was fair.. It was an obvious facade Both sides are to shame. Poor Ukraine in the middle of an oligarch war.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 4:26 p.m.

As the MP reported, authors of the draft bill recommend that the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers to pass buildings of the Pochayiv Lavra to the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.

Read more: http://www.kyivpost.com/news/nation/detail/114490/#ixzz1aTmb5czX

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 4:48 p.m.

Where is Yulia gonna get $188 million? Perhaps Yanukovych's son can lend it to her.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 4:53 p.m.

Congratulations to Victor Yanukovych. He has created a new Ukrainian modern day martyr. The beautiful face of Julia will be plastered around the world as the destroyed face of Ukraine. People respond to emotions not logic. Whether deserving or not, you gave her that eternal recognition. Nice going, fat man. Good luck with your image.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 8:04 p.m.

Totally agree with the sentiment! Anyone who thinks one can have a fair politically motivated trial in corrupt Ukraine is delusional. Sadly, this is reminiscent of political persecutions in Burma and Russia. This is a huge step back for Ukraine - back into the past, back into stagnation. It is even more depressing knowing that it is the Ukrainian people who voted Yanukonvict into power. This is certainly playing into Russia's hands who want Ukraine to be like Belarus. The biggest losers are the Ukrainian people. How terrible!

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 6:25 p.m.

nobody is interested in what you write

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 8:58 p.m.

Nobody cares what you write either, stupid Moskal monkey.

Anonymous Oct. 12, 2011, 9:12 a.m.

Keep dreaming, Canadian.

On the streets of Kiev, the reaction to the verdict was a *yawn.* Speaking to people, some said it was political, some said it was just, most just do not care.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 5:16 p.m.

There has to be at least one GOOD Sniper in Ukraine. Cross hairs on

Yunoconvict... Put Ukraine out of its misery...

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 6:10 p.m.

a cannon would do a better job :)

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 7:22 p.m.

I know this is in jest.......

But it does carry a lot of truth.....

Take Ukraine back!!

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 5:37 p.m.

A dictator with a Criminal Code Book still from Stalinist times.....

Why I have the small feeling he will not amend it?:-)

Ukrainians like to be slaves, not to think for them selfes, free bread and wodka, pardon gorilka, and believe everything Yanu says.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 5:52 p.m.

She was given a fair trial and upon conviction given a just sentence.188 million dollars is pocket change to this woman,7 years is not the full penalty that could have been imposed.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 6:30 p.m.

This type of sick justice only happens in Yanukonvicts Ukraine. At the end of the day, this is not about Tymoshenko. It is about the state of a sick nation, ruled by criminals, where justice is controlled by a dictator,freedom and democracy are swear words and those in power can carry out their criminal activities in broad daylight without being punished.Tymoshenko may not be perfect, but whatever bad she may have done, it is nothing compared to the evils Yanukonvict is doing everyday.He has pillaged billions within a very short period time.

Tymoshenko is convicted for a crime that wasn't even proven in court, and the sentence and fines imposed upon her are just ludicrous!I have no doubt that this saga did not reach it's end. Tymoshenko will be freed to partake in the coming elections where her fate will be decided by the people. That would be a fair and democratic way to deal with what is potentially a political case and not criminal.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 7:17 p.m.

Your quote...... "...only happens in Yanukonvicts Ukraine..."

Respectfully to you sir/madam.......

Since when is Ukraine , Yanukoonvicts???

Ukraine is YOURS,,,,,and belongs to the people of Ukraine !!!

It is NOT YANUKONVICTS !!!!

Sadly, it is this defeatist attitude that only helps to Yanuk to continue his rape of Ukraine.....as he knows no one will take 'him down'......

TAKE UKRAINE BACK....IT BELONGS TO US .....THE PEOPLE.....!!!!

TAKE UKRAINE BACK !!!

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 6:26 p.m.

Yanukovych then is due 280 years and penalty in the multi billions.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 7:10 p.m.

You forgot to fill in the "NAME" square , Yanuk.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 6:14 p.m.

the regione banda and moskali of donbass seem to forget that it was the rusian friends who dictated the price. with friends like that who needs enemies.the moskal master plan is to keep Ukraine fragmented and in political turmoil while its tentacles choke what little freedom is left in Ukraine.Yanuconvict and Lukashenko are in the same boat - sinking fast

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 7:29 p.m.

Now, I'm not taking sides here, I couldn't care less to what happens to her or yanuk; as I always say, stick them both in prison. BUT, what if she really IS guilty ? Plus anyone who feels that her attitude during court was good, is just blindly following her. Give her the benefit of the doubt? Sure, why not. But seriously, what if she really IS guilty? Doesn't she deserve it ? Don't go ranting to me about how she isn't and how Yanuk did all this, I have heard plenty of sides about this, but just stop, and think objectively, what if she really is guilty? We all agree that Yanuk robs Ukrainians, well so does ANY other Ukrainian politician.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 7:39 p.m.

If she really is guilty, they would have proven it in court.And since they didn't come up with any solid evidence of a crime, naturally, there is no guilt to prove. The only conclusion therefore is NOT GUILTY!

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 7:48 p.m.

yaaaaaaaaawn

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 8:03 p.m.

Still tired,,,,,,go back to Siberia, nights are long,,,,,you can get plenty of rest.....

.....or.......

Is this the full extent of your vocabulary ??

....uhh, vocabulary means all the words you know......

But then wouldn't know what I'm saying ,,,as your vocabulary consists of only ONE WORD.

Ask Putin,,,,to send you a ticket.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 11:09 p.m.

yawn

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 8:10 p.m.

You should really emmit bad air through your rear end, not through your big mouth.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 8:16 p.m.

....Quote..... what if she really is guilty?.......

What if Yanuk had not rigged the vote for his victory.?

What if he followed the Constitution ,,,Article 84,,,ie no piano voting..

What if he listened to Putin, who states "The gas contracts follow all rules and laws, Yulia did nothing illegal"

"We all agree Yanuk robs Ukrainians..." your words, Mikhavko.

May I suggest, in strongest terms,,,,,that you had better take sides !!

How can you hypocritcally state one thing,,,,,then admit that Yanuk is a corrupt crook.

It is not possible for Julia to show respect to a court, that ignores the Constitution of Ukraine.

The sooner you understand this......the sooner you will be saying.......

IT IS TIME TO TAKE UKRAINE BACK.......IT BELONGS TO US.....THE PEOPLE..

TAKE UKRAINE BACK.......

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 8:36 p.m.

True indeed. Pointless to be rallying under the banners of two corrupt politicians. The divide created in Ukraine under those two is the worse consequence of all this.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 9:03 p.m.

If you usually see my comments on this website, you would realize that im pro- UKRAINE .. and I ALWAYS stress on the fact that both BYUT and POR should be tossed down the toilet.. They feed of the east-west conflict in Ukraine, where A UKRAINIAN CALLS A FELLOW UKRAINIAN a moskal for speaking Russian or a Nazi for being from the west .. is this UKRAINE ? No it is not. At least it is not the Ukraine I want. Ita good that she is in jail, next step, throwing yanuk in jail .. Read ALL my comment please, I despise both those crooks !

Anonymous Oct. 12, 2011, 1:18 a.m.

You are a moskal if you cannot speak the mother tongue of your country .... Ukrainian

Anonymous Oct. 12, 2011, 9:10 a.m.

Is that the national language of Canada?

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 8:31 p.m.

*** Attention all diaspora: send vibrators. Our Tymoshenko will be very bored in the slammer. ***

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 11:32 p.m.

You should be admitted to a nuthouse! Only a mentally retarted fool will make comments like this.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 11:47 p.m.

you are boring man !

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 8:38 p.m.

The main point in this trial is that there is no right or wrong.

There are two wrongs, hence the difficult equation

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 10:56 p.m.

She didnt look so happy today. Yanu has wiped the I'm above the law smirk and arrogance off Yulias face - she didnt see that coming.

33% of Ukrainians believe she should be jailed, 35% dont care either way, 32% think she should be free

98% of KP columnists are blind pro BYUT raving Banshees

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 11:08 p.m.

I fully agree !

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 11:24 p.m.

And you're a blind pro criminal idiot! Most Ukrainians calling for Tymoshenkos release are not pro BYUT or pro Tymoshenko. They are pro Ukraine.We want a free and democratic Ukraine where the law is applied to all, and not abused by power hungry thieves.

Anonymous Oct. 12, 2011, 7:31 a.m.

Dear idiot read your last words again... Yulia is a power hungry thief!!

Anonymous Oct. 13, 2011, 1:20 p.m.

I do read my words and you're rotting empty brain obviously doesn't comprehend. Abusing the system to gain power is not the same thing as power hungry. You can starve for anything you want, but its you're actions that determines who you are. Now, try to digest that!

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 11:24 p.m.

How politicially motivated the KP has become!

It has simply and unashamedly become a BYUT propoganda mouthpiece.

This article points out the bleeding obvious in that all the international community has offered , can offer and will offer is hollow words.

The EU had their chance in 2004 and for 6 years they offered Ukraine only hollow words of hope and now they have the audacity to say THEY are disappointed in Ukraine? When THEY had the opportunity to immeasurably and forever change the situation here - shame on you EU and your pathetic ineptitude, no wonder your own union is burning

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 11:29 p.m.

And you have become the devils mouthpiece. Get real and open your eyes to reality, or shut your mouth and crawl back into your hole.You're not Ukrainian and people like you don't care about our country.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 11:41 p.m.

And let me guess your a proponent of free speech for BYUT...based in Canada?

Heres reality Yulia can pay back the $186mn and still have close to 1.8bn in her Cyprus bank

Wake up you fool both sides are as bent

Anonymous Oct. 12, 2011, 9:08 a.m.

Get real: I doubt YT has USD 1.8 billion in a Cyprus bank.

She has that money in Swiss banks, Channel Islands banks, Panamanian banks, etc.. And not a dime of it legally earned.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 11:46 p.m.

yaaaaaaaaawn

Anonymous Oct. 12, 2011, 4:02 a.m.

This is the problem with Ukraine and its corrupt gov't.

This commentor feels that it is up to the EU to do something in '04 to help Ukraine.

Respectfully , time to wake up.

Over and over again, commentors blame EU, Britan, US,,,for not helping Ukraine.......wake up ,,,,,,,they do...they give plenty of political criticism about Yanuk and his corrupt regeime.....and that is as far as they will go.

Why ??

Because Ukraine belongs to you, to us ,,,,the PEOPLE !!

If we want meaningful change,,,,,then WE HAVE TO EFFECT IT !!!

I want Ukraine back,,,do you??

Then it is time the people took to the streets and TAKE UKRAINE BACK....

UKRAINE IS OWNED BY THE PEOPLE......NOT YANUK (as some comments suggest)

TAKE UKRAINE BACK.....

Anonymous Oct. 12, 2011, 8:08 a.m.

No, No, No

I believe that the people should stand up for what they believe and need to take responsibility for their decisions and actions. However in my comment I was referring to the stated Foreign policy of the EU. I was not blaming EU for Ukraines woes I was saying you had your chance and failed there is a difference. The EU now seem perfectly happy to think that they can meddle in "the best interests of Ukraine" My point was they allowed 6 years to pass which they now hopefully regret. Again based on their stated policy on Ukraine.

The Orange revolution created the opportunity for both the people and friendly neighbours ie EU to irreversably change, I believe both the people and the EU wish they could press rewind and start again, but then again hindsight is always 20/20

Anonymous Oct. 12, 2011, 9:06 a.m.

Um, the KP has always reflected the diaspora line, whatever that may be at the time.

This is why anyone with any sense ignores the KP.

Anonymous Oct. 11, 2011, 11:41 p.m.

Rule of law - the Ukrainian way:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WR1yfMFiZo

Anonymous Oct. 12, 2011, 1:28 a.m.

With all honesty, I never never see so many cold, idiots and stupid comments together, were all you misebale people come from?

You are without question a bunch od sovoks-moscalis, what a shame .........I do not care about Yulia, she was not my favorite person, but it is the moment, look what it is going on in Ukraine, are you blind? You can not see were we are going? BELARUS NUMBER 2......

Anonymous Oct. 12, 2011, 1:15 a.m.

Surely because Ukraine's top durak, aka Proffffesssssor yanukonvikt, has found Tymoshenko guilty, this must mean that Ukrainians should insist on yanukovikt to cancel the 2009 Gaz deal. Also the extension to the Back Sea Fleet (whom nobody except yanuk and the russians wanted) must also be cancelled because the basis of this was in exchange for a 'big' discount for Gaz (which nobody got) on a illegal and now defunct Gaz deal/contract.

Proffffesssor yanukonvikt is digging his own grave!!!

Anonymous Oct. 12, 2011, 2:03 a.m.

Sad new but not unexpected.

If these were the grounds for sending Yulia to prison, perhaps they should investigate his selling of Ukraine's assets while he was PM at bargain basement prices...or maybe they could investigate his deal with the Russians for gas when he was PM.

I do not have the capacity to express the anger I have for Ukraine's leaders and especially for those traitors (Yush & Yats) for supporting him instead of Yulia in the last election. They thought they would be part of the new administration, but Yanu fooled them...those fools.

Anonymous Oct. 12, 2011, 5:05 a.m.

I for one volunteer my services for conjugal visits for yulichka... In return I want one thing and that is that her daughter be present :))))

Anonymous Oct. 12, 2011, 7:38 a.m.

Homo.

Anonymous Oct. 12, 2011, 11:38 a.m.

Hey folks, there are more important things to do in Ukraine than discuss Tymoshenko's future.

Back to work !

Anonymous Oct. 16, 2011, 5:13 p.m.

!! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !! !!

!! !! !! !! !! !! !! !!

Roman Landyk seen on the streets of Lugansk: happy and as if after a vacation

http://tsn.ua/ukrayina/romana-landika-bachili-na-vulicyah-luganska-veselim-i-nibi-pislya-vidpochinku.html

!! !! !! !! !! !! !! !!

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