SOURCE BYuT-BatkivshchynaOpposition leader Ms Tymoshenko is charged in Ukraine with abuse of power and the improper use of budgetary funds relating to the handling of revenues from the sale of carbon emission credits under the Kyoto Protocol. A second charge relates to alleged abuse of power in purchasing 1,000 Opel Combo vehicles (medical cars) and other medical equipment under a contract with Austrian company Vamed Engineering GmBH & Co.
Furthermore, Covington and Burling cites an unacceptable and serious failure by Trout Cacheris and the Government of Ukraine to disclose materials, making it impossible to substantiate the findings of an investigative report of 14 October, 2010, made by Trout Cacheris and Akrin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. This absence of evidence supports claims that the charges against Ms Tymoshenko are politically motivated.
The key findings from Covington & Burling can be found here.
"The Kyoto and Opel Combo Sections of the October 14, 2010 report are not worth the paper they are printed on," said a Key Findings statement issued to journalists at a press briefing today in Washington DC. "At present, the allegations against the former prime minister appear to be political in nature because there does not appear to be facts to substantiate the charges."
Ms Tymoshenko faces a third case - not covered by this report - relating to her signing a gas agreement with Russia in 2009, which is again considered to be politically motivated.
