乌克兰法官拒绝释放季莫申科

A judge in Ukraine rejected Monday a request by former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko's lawyer to free her from police detention during her trial on abuse of authority while in office.

Ms. Tymoshenko was taken into custody Friday after the judges determined she was in contempt of court.

On Sunday, the administrative court decided to ban mass protests near the Kyiv court where the trial will take place. Security troops also surrounded her supporters near the detention center in Ukraine's capital where she is being held.

The U.S. embassy in Kyiv has called on Ukraine to release the former prime minister. A statement issued Saturday also expressed concerns about the application of the rule of law in the Eastern European country.

Ms. Tymoshenko is accused of overstepping her powers in the process of striking a natural gas deal with Russia in 2009.