Ukraine's Tymoshenko Charged With Tax Evasion

Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko

Ukraine's tax authority says former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko, sentenced to seven years in prison for abuse of office, has been charged with tax evasion, theft and concealing foreign currency revenues.

The State Tax Administration said in a statement on November 11 that the charges are linked to her activities as the head of gas trading firm, United Energy Systems of Ukraine -- a position she held in the 1990s.

Tymoshenko, who is currently in jail serving her sentence, has denied all earlier charges against her and said her trial reflected a political vendetta waged by President Viktor Yanukovych, who narrowly beat her in a presidential poll last year.

The European Union has warned Ukraine it may not sign planned bilateral deals on political association and free trade if Tymoshenko remains in jail.

Reuters