Party leader Tymoshenko says tapes released by anti-corruption agencies have "nothing to do" with her

Yuliia Tymoshenko, leader of the Batkivshchyna parliamentary faction, has said that audio recordings released by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) have "nothing to do" with her.

Source: Tymoshenko on Facebook

Quote: "I officially state that the published audio recordings have nothing to do with me.

I reject all the accusations and, as always, will prove their groundlessness in court. I have done this more than once before."

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 (offering, promising or giving an unlawful benefit).
• 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.
• NABU has released a recording in which Tymoshenko and an unidentified MP can be heard discussing a scheme for providing payments in exchange for voting a certain way in the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament).

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