Opposition Leader Yulia Tymoshenko Bound For Kiev

<p>Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko was arriving in the Ukrainian capital of Kiev after being freed from prison Saturday.</p>

Image: Yulia Tymoshenko freed, leaving hospital

Ukrainian opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko greets supporters from a car as she leaves the Central Clinical Hospital in Kharkiv, Ukraine, 22 February 2014. Tymoshenko has been freed from her prison hospital in Kharkiv and is expected to be on her way to Kiev. The former Ukrainian Prime Minister, who was sentenced to seven years in jail for abuse of office in 2011, said she will stand for president in May, the Itar-Tass news agency reported. The Ukrainian parliament on 22 February set early presidential elections for 25 May 2014. EPA/SERGEY KOZLOVSERGEY KOZLOV / EPA

Feb. 22, 2014, 6:02 PM UTC / Updated Feb. 22, 2014, 6:28 PM UTC

Former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko — a chief rival of embattled Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych — was ordered freed from prison Saturday, and was bound for the capital of Kiev, the Interfax-Ukraine News Agency reported.

Tymoshenko was surrounded by supporters as she left the hospital in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, where she had been treated for a bad back while serving her seven-year prison sentence on corruption charges. She was later photographed on a plane holding a bouquet of flowers.