KIEV, Feb. 13 — German and Canadian doctors who arrived in Ukraine to see jailed opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko on Monday were briefed by prison authorities on rules of getting access to the patient.

The doctors were told that Tymoshenko, if she’s found to have any illnesses, would have to undergo treatment within the prison, according to a press release issued by the prison authorities.

“In cases like this, consultations and the treatment of the patient is carried out on the territory of the prison under supervision of prison medical personnel,” the press release said.

Tymoshenko, behind bars since August 5, has been suffering from acute back pain for months, while her body at one point developed a mysterious rash, according to her lawyer.

The visit by the international team of doctors, which will most likely be joined by Ukrainian doctors appointed by the Healthcare Ministry, is a softening of position by the government.

President Viktor Yanukovych was alleged by opposition lawmakers and some international figures of trying to eliminate a political rival, Tymoshenko, by launching her criminal prosecution.

Yanukovych denied the allegations, and said he has nothing to do with the case.

Tymoshenko’s pain, in the meantime, has eased over the past several days, Serhiy Vlasenko, her lawyer, admitted on Monday. This is an improvement from “horrendous” pain she has been experiencing since February 8, as her daughter, Eugenia, has said.

The team of German and Canadian doctors was originally expected to come on February 6, but the foreign ministry had requested additional papers to clear the visit.

The foreign ministry pledged clear the doctors without further delay once the required papers are submitted, including documents detailing medical equipment that doctors plan to carry with them.

Meanwhile, the customs agency on Monday has stopped the shipment of some medical equipment that the doctors had wanted to take with them to test Tymoshenko’s condition, according to Nina Karpacheva, the human rights officer appointed by Parliament, said. (tl/ez)