Yulia Timoshenko sentenced to 7 years of jail

Yulia Timoshenko, the former Ukrainian Prime Minister, has received 7 years imprisonment and banned from state service for 3 years. The sentence was passed by Judge of the Pechersky District Court of Kiev, Rodion Kireyev, ITAR-TASS reports.

The judge also ordered all material damage to Naftogaz to be paid back in full. Such damage was a result of a contract between Gazprom and Naftogaz Ukrainy.

Timoshenko was prime minister in January 2009. She used her authority for personal benefit, violating Article 19 of the Constitution. She caused damage amounting to $189 million. She reportedly increased prices for Russian gas in the 90s, as head of the common energy systems of Ukraine, to take revenge on President Victor Yanukovych.

Timoshenko will remain detained until the sentence comes into force. Her detention started on August 5, 2011. She is to pay 1.5 billion gryvnas in damage to Naftogaz Ukrainy and 2,500 gryvnas in legal fees.