国际英语新闻:Ukraine delays former PM's tax evasion trial for 22nd time

KIEV, Sept. 6 (Xinhua) -- A Ukrainian court on Friday adjourned for the 22nd time the trial of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who refused to show up at the court citing poor health.

"The court has ruled that it is impossible to hear the case in Tymoshenko's and her lawyer Kozhemyakin's absence," Judge Kostyantin Sadovsky said and set a new date of Sept. 23.

Tymoshenko, who is now receiving medical treatment in state hospital in eastern Kharkov city, has been charged with embezzling an estimated 405 million U.S. dollars and evading tax worth more than 87,000 dollars in the 1990s, when she was president of the United Energy Systems of Ukraine.

Tymoshenko was detained in August 2011 and sentenced to seven years in prison on charges of abuse of office in separate case.

The European Union (EU) has repeatedly expressed its support to Tymoshenko, saying her case is an example of selective justice in Ukraine. The release of Tymoshenko is one of the key preconditions for Kiev to sign a partnership political agreement and the free trade pact with EU in November.