Yulia Tymoshenko treated in Berlin for back injuries

BERLIN – Yulia Tymoshenko, Ukraine’s former prime minister, has begun medical treatment at Berlin’s Charite hospital, but the doctors caring for her said Saturday it’s too soon to say how long the treatment will take and what lasting damage the 53-year-old might have from three slipped discs she suffered while in prison.

Western governments had condemned her seven-year sentence as politically motivated, and Tymoshenko’s early release was greeted as a significant event following the ouster of pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych. Although she now holds no formal post, she is believed to wield considerable political influence and is a possible contender in Ukraine’s May 25 presidential election.

Dr. Karl Max Einhaeupl, the hospital’s chief executive, said doctors would perform more tests and decide by Monday whether to recommend an operation.

Tymoshenko refused to receive invasive medical treatment while in prison, fearing that political opponents might seek to injure her further.

Associated Press