"Since you have not allowed Serhiy Vlasenko to serve as a public defender, I have one more opportunity to defend myself by admitting him to this case as a representative of the civil defendant, because there is a civil case against me by Naftohaz, making me the civil defendant. According to articles 51 and 52 of the CPC, I have the right to defend my rights as a civil defendant," Yulia Tymoshenko said today in court.
Judge Rodion Kireyev rejected the request, saying that Serhiy Vlasenko had already participated in the case as a defense counsel.
Tymoshenko has also submitted to the office of the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv a number of other motions, including requests to disqualify Judge Kireyev, postpone the trial, admit a representative of the civil defendant to the case, add to the record some articles from online publications, etc.
The judge has refused to consider the motion to disqualify him, accusing Yulia Tymoshenko of trying to drag out the proceedings. The ex-premier responded by accusing the judge of violating her right to enter motions in court.
