Tymoshenko, leader of large party, confirms searches, denies allegations and implies political clear-out

Yuliia Tymoshenko, leader of the Batkivshchyna parliamentary faction, has confirmed that searches were carried out at the party's office but has rejected all allegations against her.

Source: Tymoshenko on Facebook

Quote: "Just now, so-called 'urgent investigative actions' at the Batkivshchyna party's office have ended. These 'urgent investigative actions' lasted all night and have nothing to do with law or justice.

More than 30 heavily armed men, without presenting any documents, effectively seized the building and took staff hostage."

Details: Tymoshenko said the searches had been conducted without a warrant and had been accompanied only by "loud public statements online without any evidence".

She described the search as a "grand PR stunt" and said that the investigators had "found nothing", instead seizing her "work phones, parliamentary documents and personal savings, all of which are fully declared in my official asset declaration".

Quote from Tymoshenko: "I categorically reject all these absurd accusations. It seems the elections are much closer than they seemed.

And someone has decided to begin clearing out political competitors."

More details: She added that this was yet another order driven by political motives against her.

"Persecution and pressure have been my daily reality for many years. I am no longer afraid of anything, because I know I am honest with myself, with the people and with Ukraine. No one can break or stop me. And this time, we will once again prove the truth," the Batkivshchyna party leader concluded.

Background:

• On the evening of Tuesday 13 January, NABU and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) reported that they had uncovered corruption involving the head of a parliamentary faction. Sources told Ukrainska Pravda that the case concerns Yuliia Tymoshenko.
• The anti-corruption bodies stated that the head of the parliamentary faction had been exposed for allegedly offering unlawful benefits to several MPs from other factions in exchange for voting "for" or "against" specific draft laws.
• The case has been classified under Article 369.4 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
• On the morning of 14 January, sources in political circles told Ukrainska Pravda that anti-corruption agencies had served Yuliia Tymoshenko with a notice of suspicion.

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