You're reading: Verkhovna Rada refuses to decriminalize charges against Tymoshenko (updated)

Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine has refused to put on its agenda the issue of decriminalizing Article 365 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, under which Ukraine's premier Yulia Tymoshenko was convicted.

Only 156 MPs voted for putting this issue on the agenda of the Verkhovna Rada, with 226 being the minimum required for passing such a decision.

Tymoshenko was sentenced to seven years in prison under Article 365 of the Criminal Code on abuse of office charges for signing gas contracts with Russia in 2009.

As reported, on Dec. 16, the Verkhovna Rada passed a law amending certain Ukrainian statutory acts and abolishing criminal liability for economic offenses, although it rejected amendments that would allow the release of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

The opposition factions in parliament insisted on decriminalizing the article under which Tymoshenko was sentenced to seven years in prison, but the majority didn’t back this proposal.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych has signed the law on Dec. 16. The law will come into force in a month after the president signs it.