Report Finds No Evidence of Crime or Corruption in Tymoshenko's Actions

WASHINGTON, June 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

This press release is a re-issue of the release distributed by PRNewswire on behalf of BYuT-Batkivshchyna at 15:24 ET on 17 June 2011.

The first paragraph of the release distributed yesterday was erroneously omitted by PRNewswire.

Full corrected release follows:

Covington & Burling LLP, one of the top law firms in the US, today announced interim report findings that reveal no evidence of wrong doing or corruption by the former Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Tymoshenko in two cases brought against her by the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine. Its findings are based upon a review of facts in the firm's possession and available evidence provided by US law firm Trout Cacheris LLP and the Ukrainian government.

Opposition leader Ms Tymoshenko is charged in Ukraine with abuse of power and the improper use of budgetary funds relating to the handling of revenues from the sale of carbon emission credits under the Kyoto Protocol. A second charge relates to alleged abuse of power in purchasing 1,000 Opel Combo vehicles (medical cars) and other medical equipment under a contract with Austrian company Vamed Engineering GmBH & Co.

Furthermore, Covington and Burling cites an unacceptable and serious failure by Trout Cacheris and the Government of Ukraine to disclose materials, making it impossible to substantiate the findings of an investigative report of 14 October, 2010, made by Trout Cacheris and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP. This absence of evidence supports claims that the charges against Ms Tymoshenko are politically motivated.

The key findings from Covington & Burling can be found here.

"The Kyoto and Opel Combo Sections of the October 14, 2010report are not worth the paper they are printed on," said a Key Findings statement issued to journalists at apress briefing today in Washington DC. "At present, the allegations against the former prime minister appear to be political in nature because there does not appear to be facts to substantiate the charges."

Ms Tymoshenko faces a third case - not covered by this report - relating to her signing a gas agreement with Russia in 2009, which is again considered to be politically motivated.

For further information, please contact:
Neil Pattie
[phone]
[e-mail]