Ukraine court upholds Tymoshenko`s conviction.

Ria Novosti - A Kiev appeal court upheld on Friday opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko’s conviction for abuse of office.

The former prime minister was jailed for seven years in October for acting beyond her powers in sealing a gas deal with Russia in 2009.

The prosecution and imprisonment of Tymoshenko, a heroine of the country’s Western-leaning 2004 Orange Revolution, have been widely criticized abroad.

The 51-year-old insists she is a victim of a conspiracy by President Viktor Yanukovych, her long-time political opponent. Yanukovych denies the allegations.

The Kiev Appeal Court rejected an appeal against Tymoshenko’s jailing on Friday, the Ukrainskaya Pravda newspaper said.

Tymoshenko has complained of health problems but the authorities said medical checks last months showed her life was not in danger.

Earlier this week, Yanukovych said he was “not against” Tymoshenko’s release “under certain legal circumstances.”