Yulia Tymoshenko’s lawyers have asked the court not to interrupt her while she is providing explanations of events surrounding the signing of gas contracts with Russia in 2009, according to the Official web site of Yulia Tymoshenko.

“I ask that you not interrupt Yulia Tymoshenko because by doing so we are delaying the trial,” Yulia Tymoshenko’s lawyer Oleksandr Plakhotnyuk said in response to the prosecution’s remarks that the defendant’s statements “have nothing to do with the interrogation” and are “purely political statements.”

Oleksandr Plakhontyuk stressed that the judge can stop his client only at the stage of court debate. “Yulia Tymoshenko’s comments relate to the indictment and merits of the case. The proceedings are not being broadcasted, therefore there are no grounds to say that these are political statements,” the lawyer said.

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In turn, lawyer Yuriy Sukhov said that Yulia Tymoshenko’s statement was prepared by a team of legal experts. “Such accusations by the prosecutors show that they haven’t figured out what the exact crime is,” he added.

The judge then insisted that Yulia Tymoshenko provide explanations regarding “circumstances that are relevant to the case.”

“I am obliged to analyze my actions. I am giving you explanations of my official powers in the context of norms and rules that I had to follow. Talking about the weather, who was wearing what and what room this happened in is, sorry, but totally irrelevant to the case,” the ex-premier said indignantly.