Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) have released what they say is an audio recording of a wiretapped meeting between Yulia Tymoshenko and an unnamed member of parliament, in which a scheme to buy lawmakers’ votes is discussed.
Overnight into January 14, representatives of the anti-corruption bodies searched the Kyiv headquarters of Tymoshenko’s Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party.
While the suspect was not named in official statements, SAPO spokesperson Olga Postoliuk told the outlet Suspilne that suspicion was served specifically to Tymoshenko. Tymoshenko confirmed that searches took place at her party’s offices and said she “categorically” denies all allegations.
NABU also published a photo from the party office search that appears to show a woman with a hairstyle resembling Tymoshenko’s seated at a table with stacks of U.S. dollars.
On the recording, a woman identified by investigators as Tymoshenko speaks in Russian with another member of parliament about coordinating votes. According to investigators, the suspect approached individual lawmakers and offered them money in exchange for loyal behavior during votes on legislation.
The conversation suggests a regular, not one-off, arrangement. On the tape, the woman says this is “an ongoing arrangement” and that deputies would be paid in advance for two sessions. The published recording is dated January 12:
Tymoshenko: But I need to pass along what to vote for.
Deputy: Of course.
Tymoshenko: Then can I just send it to your phone on Signal? ... I’ll send it on Signal. I’ll likely send you the bill number and, roughly, “for” or “against.” “Against” means you can abstain, not vote — just so there’s no vote. And “for” means “for.” For us, look... of course, it’s preferable there are no glitches.
Deputy: Mm-hmm.
Tymoshenko: Because everything for us is connected. We want to “wreck” this “majority,” so we shouldn’t give them any slack. So please talk to the guys. There won’t be any penalties, of course, but it’s very important...
Deputy: So there’s discipline.
Tymoshenko: Discipline, yes. Otherwise none of this makes sense.
Separately, the two discuss personnel votes. The female voice says deputies should vote “for” when it comes to dismissals but not vote for appointments across all candidates. A day earlier, the Verkhovna Rada failed to approve new appointments for Denys Shmyhal and Mykhailo Fedorov, who had been slated to become energy minister and defense minister, respectively.
The preliminary charge cited by authorities is Part 4 of Article 369 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code, covering the offer, promise or provision of an improper benefit to an official.
