Punishment for economic crimes softened, "Tymoshenko amendment" rejected
Context
- Amendments allowing Tymoshenko to escape prison rejected by parliament
- Ukrainian parliament to examine laws to help Tymoshenko avoid prison
- Court will pass sentence to Tymoshenko on October 11
- Tymoshenko to make final speech in court
- EU expresses concern over possibly unfair sentence for Tymoshenko
- Court may pass sentence to Tymoshenko this week - attorney
- Tymoshenko's health in no danger - Ukrainian penitentiary service
- Ex-Ukrainian PM Tymoshenko receives extra time for arguments
- Court allows live broadcasting of Tymoshenko's sentencing
- Tymoshenko finds no proof of own guilt in prosecution's materials
- Tymoshenko challenges authenticity of key prosecution evidence
- Ukrainian court refuses to admit into evidence documents requested by Tymoshenko
- Tymoshenko wants "gas case" materials announced in full
- Tymoshenko petitions to be heard on Thursday
- Tymoshenko: Case materials missing
- Tymoshenko requests medical checkup once again
- Tymoshenko blames Yanukovich for detrimental gas contracts
KIEV, October 7 - RAPSI. The bill softening punishment for a number of economic crimes passed its first reading at the Ukrainian parliament on Thursday, yet it failed to introduce at this stage legislative amendments allowing former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko to avoid criminal prosecution in the infamous "gas case", RIA Novosti reported on Friday.
Some 278 deputies voted for the decision, while the required minimum was 226.
The opposition tried to amend the presidential bill to remove from the Criminal Code the offence for which Tymoshenko is tried (abuse of power and office). If the amendments are approved Tymoshenko may be released right in the courtroom, the opposition said.
Under its rules the parliament may amend the bill and adopt it in the second reading next week on October 18-21.
A Kiev district court will begin announcing Tymoshenko's sentence on October 11. The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office has charged Tymoshenko with abuse of powers in connection with her approval of a Russian gas contract in 2009, when she served as prime minister.
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