A Ukrainian court in Kiev sanctioned on Friday the arrest of the country’s former prime minister, Yulia Tymoshenko.

She left the court in a police van

There was a large police presence.

Tymoshenko’s supporters tried to stop police taking her away

Fighting broke out
© RIA Novosti . Grigory Vasilenko / Go to the mediabankTymoshenko, currently an opposition leader, is charged with signing a 2009 gas contract with Russian gas company Gazprom which Kiev says was disadvantageous to Ukraine.

Tymoshenko, currently an opposition leader, is charged with signing a 2009 gas contract with Russian gas company Gazprom which Kiev says was disadvantageous to Ukraine.