Ukraine's leading English-language newspaper since 1995

Supporters of former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko shout slogans outside the Pecherskiy District Court in central Kiev, Ukraine, Wednesday, Aug. 17, 2011. Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has testified against his 2004 Orange Revolution partner, ex premier Yulia Tymoshenko in her abuse of office trial. AP Moscow, August 17 (Interfax) - Former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko's claims that he was not involved in the talks on gas contracts with Russia are a lie, a high-placed Kremlin official said at reporters' request while commenting on Yushchenko's testimony at the Pechersky Court in Kyiv on Wednesday.

"Yuschenko is deceiving his court," he said.

"During his tenure as president, he personally wanted to win political dividends by urging Russian President Dmitry Medvedev to sign the agreement on the settlement of the gas problems with him," the source said.

"He was told that this issue is within the competence of the Russian and Ukrainian governments," he said.

"In addition to this, Yushchenko said in telephone talks with Medvedev later that he fully trusted Yulia Tymoshenko and that she possessed all powers needed and that he would support the agreements to be reached with Russia," the Kremlin source said.

The Pechersky Court is hearing the case against ex-Prime Minister Tymoshenko, charged with exceeding her powers in talks on gas contracts with Russia in 2009.

Yushchenko testified in the court as a witness on Wednesday.

Читайте об этом на www.kyivpost.ua