Arab News Japan.

TOKYO: Tokyo Governor KOIKE Yuriko received former Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building on Friday.

The two women hugged and exchanged words of kindness and solidarity towards Ukrainian women. Timoshenko thanked the Tokyo governor for the support of Ukrainian refugees, saying, “Thank you for standing with Ukraine in difficult times, and for creating an atmosphere of close friendship.”

Nicknamed the Princess of Gas because of her investments in the gas industry, Tymoshenko, was twice prime minister but was imprisoned on charges of abuse of power. She made several hunger strikes before being released during the political upheaval in 2013.

In 2005, business magazine Forbes ranked her as the third most powerful woman on the planet. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Tymoshenko was photographed taking up arms to defend her country.

The Ukrainian delegation that accompanied the former Prime Minister included Hryhoriy Nemyria, who served as her Deputy Prime Minister from 2007 to 2010. Nemyria also chaired the committees on European Integration and on Human Rights.