Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was given a seven-year prison sentence after being found guilty on Tuesday of abuse of office over her signing of a gas deal with Russia in 2009.
Judge Rodion Kireyev said Tymoshenko, one of the leaders of Ukraine's pro-Western Orange Revolution, had exceeded her powers by personally issuing directives related to the deal.
He also ordered Tymoshenko to pay compensation of $189 million in compensation for losses incurred by Ukraine’s gas monopoly Naftogaz.
Tymoshenko said she would contest the conviction, and spoke up as the judge read the verdict, saying the judge was “taking Ukraine’s freedom.”
