Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies on Tymoshenko case: payouts to MPs planned for long term
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) have officially served the leader of one of Ukraine's parliamentary factions with a notice of suspicion for allegedly offering unlawful benefits to MPs on a systemic basis.
Source: National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO)
Quote: "Investigators have discovered that after NABU and SAPO exposed in December 2025 that members of parliament had received unlawful benefits for adopting decisions on draft laws in parliament, the suspect initiated discussions with certain MPs on introducing a systemic mechanism for providing unlawful benefits in exchange for loyal behaviour during votes. It was not about one-off arrangements but a regular cooperation mechanism that envisaged advance payments and was calculated to last for a long period."
Details: Ukrainska Pravda has established that the suspect is Yuliia Tymoshenko, leader of the Batkivshchyna parliamentary faction.
The anti-corruption agencies said that MPs were to receive instructions on how to vote and in some cases on abstaining or not taking part in voting.
Investigators have established that the arrangements concerned not only draft laws but also personnel decisions.
The anti-corruption agencies also posted a video showing cash in US dollars being seized during searches.
Background:
- On the evening of Tuesday 13 January, NABU and SAPO reported that they had uncovered corruption involving the leader of a parliamentary faction. Sources told Ukrainska Pravda that the case concerns Yuliia Tymoshenko.
- The anti-corruption bodies stated that Tymoshenko 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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