It is clear now why Mr. Yushchenko was loath to testify in court about the “gas case.” He was received badly and ushered out still worse. He arrived at and left the Pechersky Court to the cries “Shame!”
But let us discuss things one by one. The first to be questioned was Bohdan Sokolovsky, once in charge of energy security. Last Tuesday, August 16, policemen came to the hospital in order to forcibly take him to the Pechersky Court. Yet his testimony lasted for quite a short time – perhaps an hour or so.
Oddly enough, Sokolovsky defended Tymoshenko, although he was a witness for the prosecution. He noted, inci tally, that the term “directive” had not been in use at the time. “But I do not know even one legislative act in Ukraine, which would could Tymoshenko to sign her personal instructions to Citizen Dubyna or any other citizen, for example, Akhmetov. But whether they will be fulfilled is a different question,” Sokolovsky said.
Later, in the Pechersky Court corridor, he told journalists that it would be quite a sound idea also to question the Russian side, – Vladmir Putin and Aleksey Miller – for the Russian side could add some new useful information to this matter.
But it took quite a longer time to question Mr. Yushchenko. As it was to be expected, he shifted all the blame to the “traitor” Tymoshenko and also, like Sokolovsky, demanded that Putin be questioned about the case.
Yushchenko assured the court that he had not called Oleh Dubyna off from the gas talks. He claimed Dubyna had come back on his own “because he kept walking down the Gazprom corridors for two days, and there no negotiations.”
Generally characterizing the 2009 events and their consequences, Yushchenko said it was a betrayal of the national economy and security, and the 2009 gas treaty was signed only because the Russian side wanted to see Yulia Tymoshenko as a new pro-Russian and “servile” presi t of Ukraine.
Tymoshenko herself refused to ask him questions. The reason is she did not want to glad Bankova Street. “I will give all explanations to the court. But now I am not going to ask the witness questions because I do not want this court to judge the Orange Revolution, I do not want this place to hear squabbles and settlements of scores between the presi t and the prime minister,” Tymoshenko explained. “Let all that Mr. Yushchenko said remain on his conscience. I will not be asking questions because I don’t want to glad Bankova Street.”
After the testimony, Yushchenko held an improvised press conference in the courtyard. One could hear people chanting “Shame” on the street all this time.
Further developments resembled a whodunit. Half an hour later Yushchenko was still afraid to go home because there were a huge number of people around, and many of whom held eggs in hand. It must be noted that the “wrath of people” was carefully orchestrated.
“Yushchenko is now going to drive out of Entrance Two. Let us duly meet this, pardon the expression, gentleman. But stay within the framework of law,” a man was shouting in the bullhorn. As a result, they pelted an innocent Volkswagen with eggs. Yet a couple of eggs also hit Yushchenko’s Mercedes. His driver waited for the moment when people a little calmed down and quickly drove out of the courtyard.
As for the further course of the trial, the court will soon hear a testimony of Tymoshenko herself. She refused to do so yesterday. “I have no time left to study case materials and witness evi ce. I am not prepared at this moment to testify and I request that the trial be adjourned for two days until Monday,” he said to Judge Kireiev.
But, sooner or later, she will have to testify. This will be followed by expert examination of a large number of materials – 15 volumes. The court is to establish the procedure of hearings. Then come the debates and the defendant’s last plea. Should the sessions continue to proceed at the current rate, the court may pass the sentence somewhere in early September.
