You're reading: Tymoshenko refuses to question Yuschenko ‘to avoid squabble in court’

Kyiv, August 17 (Interfax-Ukraine) – Former Ukrainian Prime Minister and Batkivschyna Party leader Yulia Tymoshenko has said that she disagrees with the testimony provided by third Ukrainian President Viktor Yuschenko in the gas supply case and refuses to put questions to him.

"I disagree with the testimony of the witness. I will not ask him questions, because I don’t want to cause a squabble here to sort out relations between the president and the prime minister," she said at a session of Kyiv’s Pechersky District Court, after the ex-premier’s defense team put all questions to Yuschenko and it was her turn to ask.

"Let God be the judge," Tymoshenko said.

She was quite calm, without raising her voice, and, apparently trying her emotions. Tymoshenko made her statement without standing.

"I don’t want to ask questions, because I don’t want to please you," Tymoshenko said.

This caused a warm positive reaction from BYT MPs attending the court session.

After Yuschenko’s interrogation, BYT MP Mykhailo Kosiv began to loudly comment on the testimony of the ex-president.

"I am ashamed of this man," he said.

Kosiv also called Yuschenko "scum," and then Judge Rodion Kireyev asked him to leave the courtroom. The deputy complied with the request of the judge.