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International group of doctors to examine Tymoshenko

Medical examination of Tymoshenko to be conducted by international doctors

KIEV, February 13 (Itar-Tass) — On Monday foreign doctors will conduct a medical examination of Ukraine’s former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, “On Monday, February 13, specialists from Germany and Canada together with the Ukrainian colleagues will conduct a medical examination of Tymoshenko.” The international medics’ group will hold their council meeting in the Kachanovskaya penal colony in Kharkov where she serves her term.

On Sunday Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird  informed Kiev authorities that three Canadian specialists who requested anonymity are ready to take part in the work of the international medical commission that is being set up by the Ukrainian government for the former Ukrainian prime minister’s health assessment.

Sergei Vlasenko, the head of Tymoshenko’s group of lawyers, a member of the Verkhovna Rada (parliament)  said that the Ukrainian Health Ministry insists on parity principles of forming an international medical commission. According to him, “they want the commission to include 10 doctors - five foreign and five Ukrainian.” Vlasenko said that Timoshenko has passed on a statement to the directors of the Kachanovskaya colony announcing that she refuses the help of doctors who were appointed by the Ukrainian Health Ministry.

The press service of the Ukrainian penitentiary service said that the prison authorities “expressed willingness to cooperate with foreign doctors in assessment of Tymoshenko’s health condition.” Yevgeny Barash, the penitentiary service’s representative in the Kharkov region said that   Tymoshenko was allowed not to wear prison uniform and not to work. “She will not work for now, as she yet needs to familiarize herself with the volumes of her second criminal case in connection with the debts of the United Energy Systems of Ukraine (UESU) corporation,” Barash said. “Tymoshenko was also allowed not to wear prison overall. For now she will be wearing her clothes.” Timoshenko began complaining about health problems during her stay in a pre-trial detention facility. According to her lawyers, she has severe back pains and she cannot move independently.

Tymoshenko was been sentenced to seven years in prison for exceeding her power as prime minister by signing gas agreements with Russia in January 2009. She is serving her sentence in the Kachanovskaya colony. On January 26, Tymoshenko’s lawyers filed a cassational appeal against the “gas case” verdict.