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Timoshenko’s bruises could not appear in transportation to hospital - expert

The bruises of ex-Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko could not appear in her transportation to the Kharkov Ukrzheldorogi hospital on April 20

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

Photo EPA/ITAR-TASS

KIEV, April 27 (Itar-Tass) —— The bruises of ex-Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko could not appear in her transportation to the Kharkov Ukrzheldorogi hospital on April 20, says an expert opinion presented by deputy head of the forensic medicine faculty of the Kharkov Post-Graduate Medicine Academy Alexander Gurov on Friday.

“Experts acknowledged the bruises. Judging by their color, they were one or two days old. Hence the bruises could not have appeared on April 20 under the circumstances declared by Yulia Vladimirovna,” he said.

He also noted that the photographs published on Friday did not meet the requirements to such shots.

The Ukrainian media published photographs of bruises of Timoshenko and an expert opinion. Online editions said they received the photos from Ukrainian Human Rights Ombudsman Nina Karpacheva.

The photographs taken on April 25 show bruises on Timoshenko’s wrists, a forearm, an elbow and the belly. Experts confirmed the injures.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich ordered the Prosecutor General’s Office to verify the allegations made in the letter of BYUT-Batkivshchyna faction head Andrei Kozhemyakin and Our Ukraine – People’s Self Defense faction head Nikolai Martynenko concerning the conduct of penitentiary personnel as regards Timoshenko.

Timoshenko went on a hunger strike on April 20 after personnel of the Kharkov penitentiary used force against her during the transfer to the hospital.

Timoshenko is serving a seven-year-term in Kharkov. The court sentenced her on October 11, 2011, 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.

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