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Ukraine waits for German doctors’ conclusions over Timoshenko’s condition

Charite Doctor Lutz Harms has already left for Germany, taking with him the results of Timoshenko’s latest examination

KIEV, July 12 (Itar-Tass) —— Ukrainian Prime Minister and opposition Batkivshchina (Fatherland) party leader Yulia Timoshenko has undergone a new medical check-up at a Kharkov hospital, the results of which will be studied by doctors from the German Charite clinic.

Charite Doctor Lutz Harms has already left for Germany, taking with him the results of Timoshenko’s latest examination. Her lawyer Sergei Vlasenko said that another German doctor should come to visit Timoshenko next week.

He noted that such change of foreign specialists “is a regular practice and is not connected with a lack of progress in Timoshenko’s recovery”.

Timoshenko underwent an ultrasound examination at the radiology centre which is part of the Kharkov hospital. She was taken to hospital on May 9 after a 20-day hunger strike. She is now taking a course of treatment at Kharkov's railway hospital under the supervision of Charite Clinic doctors.

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 medics.

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.