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Prosecutors to study video from prison with woman looking like Timoshenko

Vlasenko said the video was fake and designed to distract attention from the physical violence used against Timoshenko

KIEV, April 26 (Itar-Tass) —— The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office has ordered an investigation into the video, posted on the Internet on April 24, which shows two persons, former Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko and her lawyer Sergei Vlasenko, meeting at Kiev’s pre-trial ward.

The video shows the woman walking in the cell without difficulty.

The Kiev prosecutor’s office has been instructed to examine the video for authenticity and “take urgent measures to remedy the violation and bring those responsible to account as required by law”.

The findings are to be reported to the Prosecutor General’s Office by April 28.

The State Penitentiary Service confirmed that the video is real and was made in the pre-trial ward where Timoshenko was held.

State Penitentiary Service First Deputy Chairman Sergei Sidorenko told one of the Ukrainian television channels on Wednesday, April 25, that he did not know how this video got on the Internet and did not rule out an internal investigation into the matter.

“We do not understand how this could happen but it is true that it’s real,” he said.

Vlasenko said the video was fake and designed to distract attention from the physical violence used against Timoshenko.

Timoshenko fell ill on August 18, 2011, two weeks after her arrest. Her lawyers say that she “has been in bed for about four months”.

Physicians believe that Timoshenko has discal hernia. She has been complaining about pains in the back. Her lawyers claim that her condition was worsening despite medical treatment.

Timoshenko mistrusts Ukrainian medics and rejected their help. She insists that she be examined by independent specialists.

On October 11, 2011, Timoshenko was sentenced to seven years in prison for having acted in excess of her powers which had resulted in damage to national interests.

Timoshenko has also been barred from holding public positions for three years and has to pay a penalty of 189 million U.S. dollars in damages to Naftogaz Ukrainy.

In late December 2011, Timoshenko was transferred from the investigation prison to a correctional facility in the eastern Kharkov region.

Timoshenko is also facing new charges as former head of the Unified Energy Systems of Ukraine. The case is due to be examined in court on April 28.