KIEV, November 22 - RAPSI. The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office hopes to finish the proceedings in the "gas case" of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko by the year's end, First Deputy Prosecutor General Rinat Kuzmin told journalists in Brussels on Tuesday.

A Kiev district court sentenced Tymoshenko to seven years in prison on October 11. The judge declared that Tymoshenko abused her powers when she served as prime minister and issued directives regarding gas contract negotiations in Moscow, which were not properly documented, and without the government's consent.

Tymoshenko has appealed the sentence. According to her defense attorneys, the court will hear the appeal on December 13.

The Ukrainian UNIAN information agency quoted Kuzmin as saying: "We hope the appeal will be considered no later than December. We assume the process will be completed before the New Year."