Tymoshenko's Daughter Meets German Minister

Yevhenia Tymoshenko

Germany's justice minister has met with the daughter of jailed former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

A government spokesman said Yevhenia Tymoshenko had a private meeting with German Justice Minister Sabine Leutheusser Schnarrenberger on May 7 to discuss her mother's case.

The visit comes amid concerns over the health of Yulia Tymoshenko, who has been on a hunger strike for the past two weeks after claiming she was beaten by prison guards.

Germany has offered to treat Tymoshenko.

Officials said German Chancellor Angela Merkel did not meet with Yevhenia Tymoshenko but said the German leader was closely following the Tymoshenko case.

Tymoshenko is serving a seven-year prison sentence on charges of abuse of power.

Her supporters say she is the victim of a vendetta by her Ukrainian political opponents.

Based on reporting by Reuters and AP