TORONTO - A group calling for democracy in Ukraine plans to stage a demonstration outside the Ukrainian Consulate in Toronto tonight.

The Canadian Group for Democracy in Ukraine is calling for all political prisoners to be released in Ukraine.

The demonstration comes on the same day that a verdict was delivered in the case of former Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

Tymoshenko was convicted of abuse of office over her handling of a gas import contract in 2009.

She says the trial is an attempt by longtime political foe President Viktor Yanukovych to bar her from coming elections as a convicted felon.

Tymoshenko was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Late last month, Foreign Affairs Minister John Baird said Canada told the government of Ukraine that it is concerned about apparent bias in her trial.

The United States and the European Union have also criticized the trial as politically motivated.