Court finds Yulia Tymoshenko guilty

A court in Kiev has found Ukraine's ex-prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko guilty of abusing her authority over gas contracts she signed with Russia, the judge said while pronouncing the verdict.

Tymoshenko could face up to seven years in prison. She insists, however, that she is the victim of a vendetta by Ukraine's President Viktor Yanukovych.

Judge Rodion Kireev, the court's chairman, said Yulia Tymoshenko had caused nearly US $200.000 of damage to national energy company Naftogaz Ukrainy by signing the 2009 gas agreements.

The judge began pronouncing the verdict on Tuesday morning. He started the session early hoping to finish his speech by the day’s end. Two Ukrainian TV channels are broadcasting live from the courtroom.

Only journalists and people directly involved in the trial are being allowed access to the court.