Ex-Ukrainian PM targeted in vote-buying probe

January 15, 2026

TL;DR

Yulia Timoshenko's party office was searched as part of a parliamentary vote-buying probe.
Timoshenko denies wrongdoing and calls the investigation a 'grandiose publicity stunt'.
Formal charges were announced against a female suspect accused of creating a mechanism for payments to MPs.
The development occurred after significant parliamentary votes related to government reshuffles.
Timoshenko claims the case is politically motivated persecution.
Parliamentary and presidential elections are banned in Ukraine under martial law.
Timoshenko has faced multiple criminal prosecutions in the past.
Her party's votes were instrumental in recent key parliamentary decisions, including a bill affecting NABU and SAPO's independence.
MPs from her party voted to remove Vasily Malyuk as head of the SBU at President Zelensky's request.
A government reshuffle was triggered by a corruption investigation in the energy sector.
Key appointments for energy minister and defense minister replacements were not approved.

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