Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Ukraine's former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has gone on trial in a case that has raised concerns in the West over the government's commitment to democracy and the rule of law.
Tymoshenko, now a top opposition leader, has been charged with abuse of office in signing a deal with Moscow to buy Russian natural gas at prices investigators said were too high.
She denies the charges, and describes them as a political plot by her rival, President Viktor Yanukovych, to keep her out of upcoming parliamentary and presidential elections.
The United States and the European Union have condemned the probe against Tymoshenko and a number of her top allies as selective prosecution of political opponents.
Tymoshenko clad in an elegant beige suit, her blond hair braided, was greeted by about 1,000 supporters who had gathered outside the court, handing out posters emblazoned "Hands off Tymoshenko!".
Some of her supporters also packed into a stifling court room lacking air conditioning, shouting "Shame!" as the judge opened preliminary hearings in the case.
Tymoshenko refused to stand up to answer the judge's questions and then demanded that he should be dismissed.
"I declare you a puppet of the presidential office," Tymoshenko said. "You don't have the right to consider this case. You are fully integrated into a system of political repressions directed by authorities."
Tymoshenko was the central figure in the 2004 mass protests dubbed Orange Revolution that threw out Yanukovych's fraud-tainted election victory. She was defeated by Kremlin-friendly Yanukovych in the February 2010 presidential election and later lost her premier's job.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments