Rodion Kireev, Yuliya Timoshenko and Nikolay Titarenko

A judge Rodion Kireyev (right), Batkivshchyna Party leader and former Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko and a lawyer Nikolay Titarenko (left) in the courtroom of Pechersk district court in Kiev, on Monday, July 11, 2011. This day Kiev Pechersk district court continued a consideration of the criminal case against Batkivshchyna Party leader and former Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko on charges of abuse of office during the signing of gas contracts with Russia in 2009. During the sitting of the district court Timoshenko said about the termination of the contract with the defender Nikolay Titarenko, due to the fact that he is unable to represent her interests in court because of the actions of the court. Timoshenko publicized the statemant of the lawyer in which he notes that the court does not give the opportunity and sufficient time to study the case. Titarenko said in his letter, that thereby judge of Pechersk district court Rodion Kireyev violates current legislation as well as the international. Timoshenko addressed a petition to the court to give her three days to find a new lawyer and to hold the next court hearing on July 15. At a previous court hearing on July 8, judge Rodion Kireyev postponed the hearing on July 11 in connection with the deteriorating of the health of the lawyer Titarenko. Photo by Aleksandr Prokopenko / POOL / UNIAN