Judge Rodion Kireyev has rejected Yulia Tymoshenko’s motion to dismiss him from the case for illegally and through the use of force removing parliamentarians and members of the press from the courtroom, saying her justification is weak, according to the Official web site of Yulia Tymoshenko.
Her second motion was to allow lawyer Serhiy Vlasenko to defend her in court. "I am the head of the Batkivshchyna Party and according to Article 20 of the Law “On public associations” the party must protect the interests of its members. The party has authorized Serhiy Vlasenko to be my defense counsel in court," she explained.
Yulia Tymoshenko also stressed that of all her previous defense counsel, Serhiy Vlasenko is most familiar with the case.
However, the judge denied her request, saying that "a person that doesn’t allow the truth to be established, disturbs the court and drags out the proceedings can’t be defense counsel."
"The prosecutor and court have deliberately left me without defense. This trial was ordered and is a direct application of repression," Yulia Tymoshenko said in response.
The court is now questioning witnesses.
