Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych denied on Friday he was involved in any way with the trial of ex-premier Yulia Tymoshenko on abuse of office charges.
Earlier this week, Tymoshenko requested the withdrawal of the presiding judge, who she said was "fully dependent" on the president and his administration, but the motion was turned down.
"You do imagine what consequences any careless intervention on my behalf may entail," the Ukrainian president told journalists. "That's why I'm trying to avoid interfering with the process and jumping to conclusions."
Tymoshenko is accused of singing a "disadvantageous" gas deal with Russia in 2009. She has repeatedly dismissed the charges as politically motivated.
