The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) have completed their preliminary investigation into Yulia Tymoshenko, leader of the Batkivshchyna party and a member of the Ukrainian parliament. She faces allegations of attempting to bribe fellow lawmakers in exchange for their votes.
While the investigation did not disclose Tymoshenko’s name directly, sources indicate that she is the figure under scrutiny. The inquiry revealed that in December 2025, despite ongoing investigations into corruption among parliamentarians, Tymoshenko allegedly began negotiating a system of rewards for supportive votes from certain members.
“The arrangement involved a consistent mechanism for cooperation with advance payments. Lawmakers were expected to follow directives on how to vote, whether in favor, against, or abstaining,” the statement from NABU noted.
On January 13, anti-corruption officials conducted a search at the Batkivshchyna office, where they reportedly seized $40,000 from Tymoshenko. Investigators claim this sum was intended to bribe three lawmakers from another faction to secure their votes. Following this, SAP formally charged her with bribery and released a recording of a conversation where she allegedly offered a bribe.
Tymoshenko has countered these allegations, accusing NABU and SAP of orchestrating a political vendetta against her. She contends that the audio recording was fabricated and that the seized funds were her personal savings.
On January 16, the High Anti-Corruption Court (VAKS) set her bail at 33.3 million hryvnias, alongside restrictions requiring her to surrender her passport and remain within Kyiv without permission from investigators.
During the court proceedings, Tymoshenko identified her conversation partner in the audio recording as Igor Kopytin, a lawmaker from Mykolaiv. She claimed Kopytin approached her to propose collaboration, asserting his opposition to President Zelensky’s policies. Tymoshenko also alleged that Kopytin was involved in a separate criminal investigation by NABU and had taken steps to evade prosecution.
According to the investigation, the discussions between the lawmakers occurred on January 12, 2026.
Tymoshenko and her party have consistently criticized the operations of anti-corruption agencies, including NABU and SAP. She has even voted in favor of measures aimed at diminishing their independence and has publicly advocated for such actions.
On January 23, it was reported that the full bail amount of 33.3 million hryvnias had been posted for Tymoshenko’s release.
On February 16, the court ordered the seizure of some of Tymoshenko’s assets held in Oschadbank but lifted the seizure on three of her vehicles.
On March 13, the High Anti-Corruption Court granted a request from SAP to extend the procedural obligations imposed on Tymoshenko until May 13, 2026.
Yulia Tymoshenko faces serious allegations of bribery following an investigation by Ukraine's anti-corruption authorities. The case highlights ongoing tensions surrounding political accountability in the country.