KIEV, Feb 22 (Reuters) - Ukrainian lawmakers voted on Saturday in favour of accelerating the release of jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko under quicker procedures, without requiring the president's endorsement.
Tymoshenko was jailed in 2011 for abuse of office linked to a gas deal she brokered with Russia as prime minister, following a trial denounced by the European Union as politically motivated. Lawmakers on Friday voted to amend the criminal code to release Tymoshenko, but it required the president's signature.
(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; Writing by Matt Robinson; Editing by Alessandra Prentice)
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