Tymoshenko wants her trial slowed down

Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has urged the judge at her abuse of office trial in Kiev to slow down the proceedings. Tymoshenko said Tuesday the almost daily hearings and the amount of material to be examined is depriving her of her right to a defense, the RIA Novosti reported. "I insist that you reconsider the schedule of court sessions and not push on it in order to please (President Victor) Yanukovych," she told Judge Rodion Kireev. He responded that the hearings were being held in accordance with the law. Tymoshenko is accused of damaging the country's national interests by signing gas supply deals with Russia that disadvantaged Ukraine. She faces up to 10 years in prison if convicted. She has denied the charges and said they were politically motivated.