Appeals Chamber of Ukraine’s High Anti-Corruption Court Declines to Move Yulia Tymoshenko’s Case
Ukraine’s High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) Appeals Chamber has denied a motion from Yulia Tymoshenko seeking to transfer her criminal proceedings to a different court. The decision directly involves allegations that Tymoshenko offered illegal benefits to members of parliament. The presiding judge dismissed defense arguments that claimed bias on his part.
On June 16, Tymoshenko filed a petition with the HACC Appeals Chamber requesting that her case be moved to the Kyiv Court of Appeal. Her legal team presented several points, including that the judge had previously participated in a matter concerning a request to the Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada related to the work of a Temporary Investigative Commission (TIC) led by Serhiy Vlasenko. Tymoshenko also argued that the current head of the HACC Appeals Chamber had voted during a judges’ assembly to remove information published by Vlasenko, which the court later deemed false.
The judge rejected these claims, noting that he was not serving as head of the HACC Appeals Chamber at the time of that vote. The prosecutor also opposed the motion to disqualify the judge. Consequently, the HACC Appeals Chamber ruled against transferring Tymoshenko’s case to another court.
Charges and International Reaction
The Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) have sent an indictment to court charging Tymoshenko with offering improper advantages to lawmakers. According to the investigation, Tymoshenko was caught in January 2026 proposing bribes to Ukrainian deputies in exchange for favorable voting behavior, part of what authorities describe as a systematic scheme. In December 2025, NABU and SAPO uncovered a broader bribery network involving payments to MPs for votes in parliament.
Tymoshenko has consistently denied the allegations from the outset. Her defense team has already secured HACC rulings that lifted earlier restrictions, including permission for her to travel abroad for political and parliamentary activities. The case is being monitored by international and European human rights organizations. Delegates from the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe have spoken out against the prosecution, calling for a fair investigation. Members of the European Parliament have also expressed concern over the defense’s lack of access to an audio recording of a conversation for independent expert analysis.
The HACC Appeals Chamber’s refusal to transfer Yulia Tymoshenko’s case underscores the complexity of her legal situation. The bribery allegations have sparked widespread debate and drawn scrutiny from both domestic and international observers. As the case continues to attract attention, future developments in the judicial process could significantly impact Ukraine’s political landscape.
As legal proceedings continue, the implications of Tymoshenko's case resonate beyond Ukraine, prompting international scrutiny. Recently, the European Parliament called on Ukraine to halt the persecution of political adversaries, highlighting concerns over the treatment of opposition figures in the country. Such developments may influence public perception and international relations as the situation unfolds.