Supporters gather in Kiev tent camp as Tymoshenko trial resumes

Supporters of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko gathered at a tent city in central Kiev on Wednesday morning, as the trial over the embattled "gas princess" was about to resume. People were installing loudspeakers and unfolding banners on the square in front of the Pechyorsky Court, where Tymoshenko is being tried. Groups of people continue to arrive and, according to eyewitnesses, there are currently over 200 supporters of the ex-premier compared to the hundred the day before. Tymoshenko's husband Oleksandr, who is also acting as one of her defense lawyers, arrived at the court building holding a large bouquet of white roses. "These flowers are for Yulia Vladimirovna from her supporters," he told journalists waiting to be allowed into the building. Oleksandr said his wife's cellmate had even decided to quit smoking so as not to cause her any discomfort. Security measures have been tightened on the square and near the court's building entrance since early Wednesday morning and special task police have been stationed nearby. Andriy Pavlovskiy, a member of Tymoshenko's Batkivshyna political party, said "they [the party] never announced that such a number of supporters would show up." "But look how many policemen are here. They are simply afraid," he said adding that Tymoshenko was already in the court building as she is usually convoyed there at 5:30 a.m. Tymoshenko is being tried on abuse of office charges in connection with a gas deal signed with Russia in 2009. She was taken into custody on Friday during a court hearing. She says the charges against her are politically motivated. The court rejected release petitions filed on Tymoshenko's behalf on Monday.