Daughter: Tymoshenko denied painkillers

2012-02-09 17:52

Kiev - The daughter of jailed former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko on Thursday accused prison authorities of subjecting her mother to "horrendous" pain by denying her painkillers.

Tymoshenko is serving a seven-year term on charges of abuse of office after a trial that the West has condemned as being politically motivated. She has been bedridden at a prison in eastern Ukraine, complaining of severe back pain and accusing authorities of denying her proper medical care.

Eugenia Tymoshenko told reporters Thursday that her mother has been deprived of painkillers for several days.

"She is in horrendous pain, she cannot get up from her bed," Tymoshenko said.

She claimed that prison doctors are mistreating and misdiagnosing her mother, who will be examined by Canadian and German doctors next week.

Tymoshenko, who was convicted in October, accuses President Viktor Yanukovych of orchestrating the charges to get rid of a rival. Tymoshenko lost the last presidential race to Yanukovych.

Yanukovych has stood firm against Tymoshenko, saying that he would not intervene in her case. He has also said that the contract that Tymoshenko approved caused the country giant losses and those who were responsible for it must face justice.

Also on Thursday, Ukraine's parliament gave initial approval to a bill that would liberalise the country's criminal code, including introducing jury trials and house arrest.

But the bill will not allow Tymoshenko's release, as Western officials have called for.

- AP