Ukrainian Anti-Corruption Court Bars Tymoshenko from Travel Abroad Following Bribery Allegations

Travel Ban Imposed

According to Главком: Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court has denied a request from Yulia Tymoshenko, a member of parliament and leader of the Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party, to travel abroad. The court's decision follows formal bribery suspicions announced by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) related to alleged payments to lawmakers for their votes.

Tymoshenko's lawyer had petitioned the court to grant her permission to travel internationally from January 30 to February 15 to attend a foreign event. The lawyer also requested the temporary return of her foreign passports, which were being held by the State Migration Service. However, a prosecutor present at the hearing argued against allowing the trip, and the judge subsequently rejected the defense's application.

Preventive Measures and the Allegations

It is worth noting that the preventive measure currently applied to Tymoshenko, which is valid until March 16, involves a bail amount of 33.2 million hryvnias. On January 26, an appeals chamber ruled that she is permitted to move freely throughout Ukraine, lifting a previous restriction that confined her to the Kyiv region.

The suspicions against Tymoshenko stem from an investigation where, on January 13, NABU and prosecutors from the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office reported documenting illegal activity by the head of a parliamentary faction. The following day, January 14, searches were conducted at the Batkivshchyna party office, and the party leader was formally notified of the suspicion.

• According to NABU's case, Tymoshenko initiated negotiations with individual MPs regarding rewards for voting a certain way, which allegedly involved regular advance payments over an extended period.
• Recordings obtained by NABU reportedly capture a conversation where a voice resembling Tymoshenko's offers compensation to a lawmaker. Specifically, the recording states:

  "We pay ten for two sessions, we pay an advance for two sessions."

• It is further indicated that this likely refers to $10,000 per month.
• The conversation also discussed voting rules for personnel appointments, stating that all dismissals should be voted for, while appointments of new personnel should be ignored.

This case highlights the ongoing, high-stakes battle against corruption within Ukraine's political system. The court's refusal to permit foreign travel suggests authorities are taking a firm stance to ensure accountability. The outcome of this high-profile investigation could significantly impact the country's political landscape and public trust in its institutions.