Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has been searched only twice over the time of her stay in the hospital in Kharkiv since May 2012, the press service of the State Penitentiary Service of Ukraine has reported.
“Tymoshenko has been subjected to body search only twice over the time of her stay at Ukrzaliznytsia’s Central Clinical Hospital. Last time, this was on January 2 this year,” the press service said.
The State Penitentiary Service also said that Article 102 of the Penal Code and the rules of procedure of penal institutions, allows searches and examinations of inmates, their belongings and clothes. The Penal Code does not impose any restrictions on the searches. “Thus, the inspection of Tymoshenko’s personal belongings is held each time she is allowed a meeting with defense lawyers as well as with other persons,” the press service said.
On January 8, Tymoshenko declared a campaign of civil disobedience and announced this in an open letter that was read aloud by her defense lawyer Serhiy Vlasenko. The former prime minister said that she refused to recognize the prosecutors and investigators involved in her case and was not going to talk to them anymore. Tymoshenko also said she would not come to court voluntarily, and should they try to bring her to court by force, she would offer every resistance she could. The ex-premier also refused to go back to her hospital ward unless video surveillance and the guard are removed.
Tymoshenko’s defense lawyer Oleksandr Plakhotniuk said that the ex-premier keeps spending nights in the hall of the hospital and has been refusing to be searched for three days.
