Tymoshenko to sue Ukraine’s leader over murder link accusationJune 18, 2012 - 19:46 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Jailed Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko will sue President Viktor Yanukovych over an accusation of involvement in the 1996 murder of prominent politician Yevhen Shcherban, her lawyer said on Monday, June 18, RIA Novosti reported. Serhiy Vlasenko said the claims were "absurd" and vowed to take Yanukovych to court. Shcherban, a powerful businessman, was shot dead with his wife at an airport in eastern Ukraine. Speaking to the Bloomberg news agency last week, Yanukovych - Tymoshenko's arch-rival who narrowly defeated her in the 2010 presidential run-off - said the killing was carried out with the participation of the former prime minister. "This isn't a secret for the whole world - this happened. Including Shcherban's murder. There were motives." he said. Earlier on Monday, Ukraine's deputy prosecutor Renat Kuzmin said there was evidence that Tymoshenko and former Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko paid for the murder. But Tymoshenko, who was jailed for seven years in October 2011 for overstepping her authority as prime minister in signing a 2009 gas deal with Russia, has dismissed any link with the murder. In April, Shcherban's convicted murderer said he was under pressure to give false testimony implicating Tymoshenko. The United States, the European Union and Russia have condemned Tymoshenko's conviction. Tymoshenko denies wrongdoing and says her trial was political revenge by President Yanukovych. Top stories Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev arrived in Moscow on April 22 to hold talks with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". Partner news | Lemkin Institute urges Armenia to respect people’s right to dissent The Lemkin Institute has urged the Armenian government to respect people’s fundamental human right to express their dissent. Iran’s Red Crescent sends aid to Armenia’s flood-hit regions The Iranian Red Crescent Society has sent humanitarian aid to the victims of deadly floods that hit northern Armenia on May 25-26. Putin congratulates Pashinyan’s birthday Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on his birthday on June 1. Opposition motorcade en route to Gyumri for large rally A motorcade of protesters headed by Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is heading to the city of Gyumri. |