KIEV, June 9 - RAPSI. Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko requests that there should be no delay in the consideration of her attorney's appeal on the so-called "gas case", and that the court should proceed promptly and in her absence, the website of the All-Ukrainian Union "Fatherland" party reads, referring to a statement issued by Tymoshenko's lawyer.

The Kiev Pechora District Court sentenced Tymoshenko to seven years in prison for abuse of power when signing gas contracts with Russia in 2009. The defense appealed against the sentence in the court of appeals, which ruled to leave the verdict in force. The appeal was submitted shortly after this. Ukraine's Supreme Specialized Court on Civil and Criminal Cases began the hearing of the appeal, but it was then postponed.

The case was delayed in regard to Tymoshenko's absence, as well as the need to study additional case material. The defense of the former prime minister believes that postponing the hearing is illegal and its only purpose is to hinder the consideration of Tymoshenkos case by the European Court of Human Rights.

Tymoshenko has been diagnosed with a spinal disc herniation. German doctors have been treating her at a Kharkiv hospital since May 9.