During the July 22 hearing at the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv, Yulia Tymoshenko’s lawyers Mykola Siryi and Oleksandr Plakhotnyuk intend to file a new motion requesting additional time to review the materials in the criminal case against the former prime minister over gas contracts from 2009, according to the Official website of Yulia Tymoshenko.
"We will continue to ask the court to allow time for review, time as provided for by law. The law clearly states that the court must provide time necessary to study the case file and prepare a defense," Oleksandr Plakhotnyuk said during a press conference today in Kyiv.
He stressed that it’s impossible in three days to read all the case materials, analyze them and properly prepare to defend Yulia Tymoshenko. "It’s simply unrealistic to do this in three days. I’m sure Judge Kireyev understands that it’s physically impossible to do this. I think it takes more than three days to just turn every page, not to mention that you don’t just have to read everything, but prepare a position, conclusions. We have to speak with experts on various issues," he added.
Mykola Siryi said that today he began reading the case file. "We have already begun reviewing the materials. This morning I reviewed 50 pages and plan by the end of the day to cover a reasonable rate of up to 130-140 pages of text. But in addition to this, we have to perform extensive analysis, consult with experts, plan a defense strategy," he said.
"If a reasonable period isn’t granted, I’m certain that Tymoshenko’s lawyers will do everything they can under the Criminal Procedure Code to restore Tymoshenko’s legal right to defense," said lawyer Serhiy Vlasenko.
“I have been authorized by my colleagues to invite all representatives of the media on Thursday, starting at 9 am until 6 pm, to come to the Pechersk District Court and be present during the review by Tymoshenko’s lawyers of the case file, so that in the future there are no insinuations about this. If anyone wants, tomorrow starting at 10 am until 6 pm, any journalist can come to Turivska15 to observe the review process,” he added.