Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is planning to file a lawsuit at Kyiv's Pechersky District Court on Friday regarding the opening of a criminal case against incumbent President Viktor Yanukovych, who, she said, while serving as prime minister in 2007, reached a disadvantageous gas agreement with Russia.
An Interfax-Ukraine reporter said that Tymoshenko noted at a court session on Thursday that in 2007, the gas price increased by about 70% compared to 2006, while the gas transit fee remained unchanged.
"If we go by the logic of the prosecutor’s office, then the situation was the same as it is now. Such a statement will be submitted tomorrow," Tymoshenko said.
She said that her lawyers were preparing calculations, according to which starting from 2006, the gas price increased at a pace incommensurable with the gas transit fee.
Tymoshenko said that she and her lawyers did not consider "price parameters" to be a crime, but due to the fact such charges were brought against her, similar measures should be taken with respect to Yanukovych, who was serving as prime minister at that time.
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office opened a criminal case against Tymoshenko on charges of abuse of office in concluding the gas contracts with Russia in 2009, which, according to the investigation, caused damages amounting to UAH 1.5 billion to the state.
The court started hearing the gas case on June 24. Tymoshenko was arrested at a court session on August 5.
