A Ukranian court on Wednesday adjourned the trial of opposition politician and former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

Judge Rodion Kireyev postponed the proceedings after Ms. Tymoshenko asked for more time to go over the charges against her.

The trial is to resume July 4.

Ms. Tymoshenko, who is accused of abusing the office of prime minister in a 2009 gas deal with Russia, dismisses the case against her, saying it is politically motivated.

If convicted, the former prime minister could face 10 years in jail.

Ms. Tymoshenko narrowly lost her bid for the presidency to President Viktor Yanukovych in elections last year. The two are seen as bitter rivals.

Ms. Tymoshenko became an international figure in 2004 as a leader of Ukraine's “Orange Revolution,” a series of street demonstrations that effectively ended Mr. Yanukovych's first bid for the presidency.