Ukraine's Tymoshenko energized by probe

[March 03, 2011]  KIEV, Ukraine (AP) -- Ukraine's former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko is back in the limelight after losing last year's presidential election.

The blond-braided heroine of the 2004 Orange Revolution mass protests lost last year's presidential race to longtime foe Viktor Yanukovych as Ukrainians grew angry over economic hardships, slow reforms and endless bickering in the Orange camp. But a wide-ranging official probe into alleged misspending by Tymoshenko and her government has helped transform her image as a negligent former prime minister who mismanaged the economy into an icon of hope and people power. Tymoshenko described the charges against her as "political repression" in an interview with The Associated Press. She says the official probe has "simply confirmed that I have worked honestly." [Associated Press] Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.