Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday, October 11, he does not understand why former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was found guilty and handed a seven-year prison sentence.

He said Tymoshenko had not signed anything herself and that the agreements were concluded by national companies in full compliance with Russian and Ukrainian laws.

Putin also warned that it was “dangerous” and “counterproductive” to question existing gas agreements between Russia and Ukraine.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said earlier in the day “Yulia Tymoshenko was prosecuted for the current, still valid, legally binding agreements between Gazprom and Naftogaz Ukraine,” warning that the verdict must not affect the implementation of bilateral gas agreements, RIA Novosti reported.