Ukraine’s anti-corruption authorities have leveled serious allegations against former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, accusing her of orchestrating a scheme to buy votes within the parliament. (Reuters)
While the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) did not explicitly name Tymoshenko in its official statement, sources confirmed to Reuters that she is the individual under investigation.
Investigators say the alleged scheme was systematic and organized, rather than isolated incidents. Members of parliament are suspected of receiving advance payments in exchange for voting in favor of, or against, specific legislation, according to instructions from party leadership.
Tymoshenko, leader of the “Orange Revolution” movement in 2004 and a two-time prime minister (2005–2010), denied all allegations. In a Facebook post, she stated she intends to clear her name in court, without providing further details on the ongoing investigation.
Authorities reportedly raided her party offices overnight on Wednesday as part of the probe.
The investigation comes amid a broader campaign by Kyiv to combat corruption at high levels of government, a key requirement for Ukraine’s ambitions to join the European Union. Recent months have seen similar scandals involving other senior ministers and officials.
Tymoshenko, once one of Ukraine’s most prominent political figures, has seen her influence wane in recent years, though she remains a widely recognized figure. She ran against President Volodymyr Zelensky in the 2019 presidential elections and has occasionally clashed with his administration.
