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Medvedev says Timoshenko stands trial for gas agts with Russia, not her sins

The Russia-Ukraine gas deal 2009 strictly complies with national laws, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on August 26

BOCHAROV RUCHEI, August 31 (Itar-Tass) — President Dmitry Medvedev said former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko stands trial for gas agreements with Russia, not for her past sins.

“We understand what Timoshenko is being tried for and how: for the agreements with Russia, not for her past sins,” Medvedev said on Wednesday, August 31.

“The Russian Foreign Ministry has made an assessment [of the Timoshenko trial]. This is the position of the Russian leadership,” the president said.

The Russia-Ukraine gas deal 2009 strictly complies with national laws, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on August 26.

“Bearing in mind the decision of the Kiev Pechersky District Court to arrest Yulia Timoshenko who is accused by the Ukrainian Prosecutor General' s Office of exceeding her authority in the signing of contracts on Russian gas supply in 2009, the Russian Foreign Ministry states the following: all the gas agreements of 2009 were signed in strict compliance with the national laws of both states and international laws and their signing was preceded by instructions from the presidents of Russia and Ukraine,” the ministry said.

The trial of Timoshenko “must be fair and unbiased, meet every provision of Ukrainian laws and provide appropriate defense and compliance with elementary humanitarian norms and rules,” the ministry said.