This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/21/ukraine-opposition-leader-yulia-tymoshenko

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Ukraine vote could pave way for release of Yulia Tymoshenko Ukraine vote could pave way for release of Yulia Tymoshenko
(35 minutes later)
Ukraine's parliament has voted for amendments in the criminal code which could pave the way for the release of jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko. Ukraine's parliament has voted for amendments in the criminal code that could pave the way for the release of the jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko.
The amendments would decriminalise aspects of the criminal code relevant to her prosecution and set Ukrainian law in line with European Union legislation, her supporters have said.The amendments would decriminalise aspects of the criminal code relevant to her prosecution and set Ukrainian law in line with European Union legislation, her supporters have said.
"We are insisting that there is a vote on a bill which would free Tymoshenko," former economy minister Arseny Yatsenyuk, who has taken over as head of her Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party since she was jailed, told parliament. "We are insisting that there is a vote on a bill which would free Tymoshenko," the former economy minister Arseny Yatsenyuk, who has taken over as head of her Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party since she was jailed, told parliament.
Tymoshenko, a former prime minister and long-standing rival of President Viktor Yanukovich, was narrowly defeated by him in a run-off for the presidency in February 2010. Tymoshenko, a former prime minister and long-standing rival of the president, Viktor Yanukovich, was narrowly defeated in a runoff for the presidency in February 2010.
She was jailed in 2011 for seven years for abuse of office linked to a gas deal she brokered with Russia as prime minister after a trial denounced as political by the European Union. She was jailed in 2011 for seven years for abuse of office linked to a gas deal she brokered with Russia as prime minister, after a trial denounced as political by the European Union.
Andriy Kozhemyakin, a pro-Tymoshenko deputy, said the move would do away with Soviet-era legislation that allows people in power to destroy political opponents. "We must cut this knot," he said.Andriy Kozhemyakin, a pro-Tymoshenko deputy, said the move would do away with Soviet-era legislation that allows people in power to destroy political opponents. "We must cut this knot," he said.
The vote came as President Viktor Yanukovich signed an agreement with three opposition leaders on ending a crisis that sparked bloody clashes between protesters and police on the streets of the capital Kiev. Earlier, Yanukovich signed an agreement with three opposition leaders in an attempt to end a crisis that sparked bloody clashes between protesters and police on the streets of the capital, Kiev.
The deal sets out plans to hold early presidential elections, form a national unity government and revert to the 2004 constitution, removing some of the president's powers.The deal sets out plans to hold early presidential elections, form a national unity government and revert to the 2004 constitution, removing some of the president's powers.