Investigators to check Timoshenko involvement in murder case

"The history of Timoshenko - is a many-year history linked with various crimes, including, possibly, contract killings," Kuzmin said.

The criminal case against Yulia Timoshenko over the fact of bribery of officials of the RF Ministry of Defence when she was head of the United Energy Systems of Ukraine (UESU) corporation was terminated on non-exonerating grounds, Renat Kuzmin said.

"Officials of the Russian Ministry of Defence were convicted for bribery and other violations committed in favour of UESU, and Timoshenko was found guilty of organising bribery," he said. "And the case was against Timoshenko was dismissed under the statute of limitations, in particular," Kuzmin said.

Beginning in May 2010, a number of criminal cases were opened against Timoshenko. Also a number of criminal cases were opened against officials from the second Timoshenko Government. According to Ukrainian officials, those cases were indiscriminately made to fight corruption in Ukraine.

Timoshenko's trial (she was charged in May 2011) over abuse of office over a natural gas imports contract signed with Russia in January 2009 started on 24 June 2011. Former President and former ally of Timoshenko Viktor Yushchenko testified against her during the trail; a trial he called "a normal judicial process."

Early July 2011 Ukrainian security service opened a new criminal investigation into alleged non-delivery by United Energy Systems of Ukraine (in 1996) of goods to Russia for $405.5 million, therefore, they say, may be Russia's claims to the State budget of Ukraine (this criminal case was closed in Russia in December 2005 years by reason of lapse of time). Colonel-General Leonid Ivashov (Russian Ministry of Defence) said that Russia has long since forgiven debt corporation UESU and closed the case against Yulia Timoshenko: "The new criminal case - it's cheating"; Kazinform cites Itar-Tass.

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