Pechersk District Court of Kyiv continues consideration of the criminal case against Batkivshchyna Party leader, ex Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko concerning signing of the gas contracts with Russia in 2009.
Tymoshenko arrived in the court, according to her official website.
During the hearing Judge Rodion Kireyev is not allowing Tymoshenko to exercise her right to reply and deliver statements during a court hearing, as provided by Ukrainian legislation.
The judge repeatedly interrupted Tymoshenko today as she was trying to deliver a statement regarding the admission of new defenders to her case.
"I am taking advantage of a protective device provided for by the Constitution. My rights are being violated. I am ready to read the statement on the admission of defense lawyers. I have the right at any time to make a statement. But the court is ignoring my rights," she said.
"You don’t have the right to undercut people’s rights," she told the judge.
At the start of today’s hearing,Tymoshenko, referencing paragraph 5 of article 55 of the Constitution, stressed that every citizen of Ukraine, including representatives of all branches of power must comply with the Basic Law.
"The Constitution grants people rights if they are wrongfully violated. Today, in accordance with paragraph 5 of article 55 of the Constitution, I am exercising my right to defend my rights against illegal encroachment," she said.
Paragraph 5 of article 55 of the Constitution of Ukraine states that "Everyone has the right to protect his or her rights and freedoms from violations and illegal encroachments by any means not prohibited by law."
On July 11 the court announced a break in its hearing until July 15 after a heated argument between Tymoshenko and the presiding judge, Rodion Kireyev, about the whereabouts of the Tymoshenko’s counsel MP Serhiy Vlasenko.
Kireyev offered Tymoshenko to take a public defender and adjourned the trial.
Tymoshenko earlier refused the services of her defense lawyer Mykola Tytarenko.
Tytarenko is currently on sick leave, and he said that due to his poor condition, he had no time to read the case materials.
