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Timoshenko’s defense refutes her demand of treatment at Berlin clinic

The penitentiary personnel explained rules of medical aid to convicts in Ukraine to Timoshenko
Photo ITAR-TASS
Photo ITAR-TASS

KIEV, March 13 (Itar-Tass) —— Ex-Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko’s defense, Verkhovna Rada deputy Sergei Vlasenko refutes the statement by the State Penitentiary Service, which has claimed that Timoshenko demanded treatment in Germany.

“The State Penitentiary Service’s announcement that Yulia Timoshenko allegedly wants treatment in Germany is a sheer lie and provocation,” Vlasenko said. “Timoshenko demands treatment, which would strictly comply with the protocol of the German doctors who said that such treatment was possible only at a specialized clinic outside of the penitentiary.”

He said the German doctors diagnosed chronic diseases. “The State Penitentiary Service again makes provocations and spreads lies,” Vlasenko said.

The State Penitentiary Service said on Tuesday that Timoshenko who is serving her time at the Kharkov penitentiary demands therapy at the Center for Sports Science and Sports Medicine Berlin.

Ukrainian physicians visited Timoshenko on Monday but she refused to be examined, the service said. “She strongly rejected the therapy program suggested by German and Ukrainian doctors and demanded treatment abroad, at the Center for Sports Science and Sports Medicine Charite Berlin. The refusal was confirmed in writing,” the service said.

The penitentiary personnel explained rules of medical aid to convicts in Ukraine to Timoshenko. The German and Ukrainian physicians drafted their final recommendations for therapy and rehabilitation of Timoshenko on March 7, including massage, manual therapy, galvanic baths, medical gymnastics and electrophoresis. “The penitentiary created appropriate conditions for the therapy and rehabilitation course,” the service said.

The court sentenced Timoshenko on October 11, 2011, to seven years in prison for exceeding her authority in the signing of the gas contracts with Russia in 2009. She was also compelled to pay 1.51 billion hryvni (almost $200 million) to Neftegaz Ukrainy.