Tymoshenko case: Ukraine postpones European summit

Yulia Tymoshenko wants the authorities to let German doctors treat her

Ukraine has postponed a summit of Central and East European leaders planned for this week after several of them said they would boycott it.

Europe-wide concern about the treatment of jailed Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko prompted the boycott. Yalta was the 11-12 May summit venue.

Ms Tymoshenko has chronic back pain and is on hunger strike.

The presidents of Germany, Austria, Romania and the Czech Republic were among those who cancelled their trips.

Ukraine has not set a new date yet. There is also a threat that leaders may boycott Euro 2012 football matches in Ukraine next month.

Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Dykusarov said that "as a number of European heads of state cannot take part in the 18th summit of Central European states, Ukraine deems it necessary not to hold the summit on 11-12 May in Yalta".

Ms Tymoshenko is in jail in the eastern city of Kharkiv and on Tuesday she refused to be moved to a local hospital.

She has alleged that prison guards beat her during a previous attempt to move her to hospital and her supporters released photographs showing bruises on her body.

Ukraine denies her allegations, including her claim that she is being punished as an act of political revenge by President Viktor Yanukovych.

Ms Tymoshenko was jailed for seven years in October 2011 for abuse of office during her time as prime minister. She is an arch-rival of Mr Yanukovych, whom she helped oust from power in the 2004 Orange Revolution.

He had been elected president in a rigged election. However, in 2010 he staged a political comeback, defeating Ms Tymoshenko in a new presidential election.