国际英语新闻：Former Ukrainian PM in criminal probe

KIEV, Dec. 20 (Xinhua) -- Charges were filed against former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko on Monday over alleged misuse of state funds during her tenure from 2007 to 2010, Tymoshenko's spokeswoman said in a statement.

The state prosecutor's office said this month it was investigating Tymoshenko on suspicion of abuse of office in connection with allegations that her government misused money raised through selling carbon emission rights.

Last week Tymoshenko was called into prosecutor's office and accused of exceeding her powers as premier "with grave consequences."

Before being questioned on Monday, Tymoshenko said that she " was not going to hide somewhere in Ukraine or abroad."

Ukrainian former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko talks to the media as she arrives at the state prosecutor's office in Kiev December 15, 2010. Charges were filed against former Tymoshenko on Monday over alleged misuse of state funds during her tenure from 2007 to 2010, Tymoshenko's spokeswoman said in a statement.

After Tymoshenko narrowly lost a presidential election this year to long-time opponent Viktor Yanukovych, the new government had ordered an audit of her cabinet's spendings.

The auditors' report, published in October, alleged misuse of funds by the previous government from selling carbon emission rights under the Kyoto Protocol.

In 2001, Tymoshenko was arrested on charges of forging customs documents and smuggling gas between 1995 and 1997, but was released several weeks later.