A Ukrainian judge has convicted former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko of abusing her authority in office over a 2009 gas deal with Russia and sentenced her to seven years in prison.
"The court rules that Y.V. Tymoshenko intentionally used her powers to criminal ends," judge Rodion Kireyev said in his judgement, handing her a seven year jail sentence.
"Y.V. Tymoshenko... used her official powers to criminal ends and, acting consciously, committed actions which clearly exceeded her rights and powers which had heavy consequences," said Kireyev.
His initial summary was a clear blow for the former Orange Revolution leader who was in the tiny court, flanked by her husband Olexander and daughter Yevgenia.
Kireyev said Tymoshenko sustained a loss to state gas firm Naftogaz of 1.5 billion hryvnia ($A190.74 million) by agreeing a 10 year contract on gas imports from Russia in 2009 when she was prime minister.
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Despite being held in custody since August, Tymoshenko as ever showed up in court with her hair plaited intricately around her head and wearing an immaculate beige dress.
She shouted "Glory to Ukraine!" after being led in.
Her supporters have portrayed the trial as a struggle for the future of Ukraine and a historic fight to ensure it has a future at the heart of Europe.
Tymoshenko insists that the case is a vendetta pursued by President Viktor Yanukovych to eliminate her from politics after their tight tussle in 2010 presidential elections.
"The criminal case was fabricated and the judgement was fabricated," she told reporters during a break in the reading of her verdict.
"This process and the judgement, ordered by Yanukovych, shows the weakness of the authorities."
"There is not a word of truth in what Kireyev is saying. All of this will be rejected, I am certain. But not in the Ukrainian courts," she added.
The verdict was marked by numerous short breaks but the judge appeared nonetheless to be reading rapidly through his documents.
Hundreds of Tymoshenko supporters were gathered outside the court in central Kiev in a tense standoff with security forces as the verdict was read out.
Similar numbers of elite Berkut anti-riot police kept watch over the protesters and there were minor scuffles although no major clashes, a correspondent reported from the scene.
"Freedom for Yulia!" and "Down with the bandits!" were among the slogans shouted by the demonstrators who also put up tents outside the court in a sign they had no intention of moving away in a hurry.
