Nina Matviyenko

People's artist of Ukraine Nina Matviyenko near the building of Pechersk District Court where consideration of case against Timoshenko takes place, in Kiev, on Tuesday, August 16, 2011. This day Pechersk District Court held examination of the former Minister of Regional Development and Construction Vasiliy Kuybida as a witness in a criminal case against the former Prime Minister of Ukraine Yulia Timoshenko on charges of abuse of office during the signing of gas contracts with Russia in 2009. Kuybida confirmed the feasibility of giving directions by Timoshenko on negotiations concerning signing of gas contracts in 2009 in the light of severe crisis in the Ukraine in the gas sector. During the meeting, Judge Rodion Kireyev read out a statement of representatives of the former President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko that came to the office of Pechersk District Court. According to the statement, Yushchenko is beyond Ukraine. He confirms the testimony given by him during the pretrial investigation, and asks to announce it during the hearing. Rodion Kireyev decided to re-invite Yushchenko to testify in the case against Timoshenko. According to lawyer of Timoshenko Yuriy Sukhov, as he understood from the court decision, Yushchenko must appear for questioning on August 17. Photo by Andrey Skakodub / UNIAN