Ukraine’s NABU and SAPO raided Batkivshchyna party headquarters on 13 January 2026, charging leader Yulia Tymoshenko with bribery for influencing parliamentary votes via unlawful benefits, releasing blurred video evidence and alleged instructions. Tymoshenko rejected the claims as absurd political persecution ahead of elections, stating investigators seized declared items but found no incriminating evidence.
Searches at Batkivshchyna Offices
Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) carried out searches at the offices of the Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party on Tuesday evening, 13 January 2026. The offices belong to the political party led by former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who holds a seat in the Verkhovna Rada.
As reported in Euronews, NABU and SAPO raided a political party’s offices, later identified as Batkivshchyna headquarters. According to Novaya Gazeta Europe, Tymoshenko confirmed on Wednesday morning that her party’s offices had been searched following the agencies’ announcement of a bribery investigation into an unnamed party leader and parliamentary deputy.
The searches lasted all night, as stated by Tymoshenko herself. Ukrainian online newspaper Obozrevatel reported on Wednesday that Tymoshenko was suspected of attempting to bribe Deputy Yuriy Kisiel from President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Servant of the People party, who had already been accused of receiving undue benefits for votes.
Formal Suspicion Notice
NABU and SAPO issued a statement notifying “the leader of one of the factions in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of their suspicion that she offered unlawful benefits to members of the Ukrainian parliament.” The agencies described this as not isolated incidents but a “systematic mechanism for providing illegal benefits in exchange for loyal behaviour during voting,” involving advance payments for a long period.
As per the NABU statement reported by Bloomberg, the head of a parliamentary faction was accused of bribing lawmakers to vote in specific ways. The Kyiv Independent noted that SAPO and NABU searched Batkivshchyna offices on 13 January, charging Tymoshenko with offering bribes to MPs.
NABU published an alleged instruction from Tymoshenko to a lawmaker, directing votes in favour of dismissing SBU head Vasyl Malyuk, Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal, and Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, and against appointing Fedorov as defence minister, Shmyhal as energy minister, and Denys Maslov as justice minister. This came as the Verkhovna Rada appointed Fedorov as defence minister on Wednesday.
Evidence Released by Agencies
NABU and SAPO released a video featuring recordings of alleged arrangements and footage from the Tuesday evening search, with the person’s face blurred but identifiable by Tymoshenko’s signature hairstyle. The NABU also shared the alleged instruction sent by Tymoshenko.
The raids follow announcements on 27 December 2025, when anti-corruption watchdogs unveiled a criminal group of lawmakers receiving cash for parliamentary votes. As covered by RBC-Ukraine, media reports confirmed NABU searches at Batkivshchyna offices.
Tymoshenko’s Response
Yulia Tymoshenko confirmed the raid on Wednesday morning via a Facebook post, rejecting all allegations as “absurd.” As reported by Euronews, she called the NABU and SAPO operation
“the so-called urgent investigative actions”
that “have nothing to do with law or justice,” claiming searches occurred without a warrant and only with
“loud public statements online without any evidence.”
In her statement, as quoted by Novaya Gazeta Europe, Tymoshenko said:
“This search is a huge PR stunt. They didn’t find anything, so they just took my work phones, parliamentary documents and personal savings, which are all fully accounted for in my official declaration.”
She added in the Kyiv Independent coverage:
“They found nothing, so they just took my work phones, parliamentary documents, and personal savings, all of which are fully declared in my official statement of assets. I categorically reject all the absurd accusations.”
Tymoshenko further remarked:
“It seems the elections are much closer than they seemed. And someone has decided to begin clearing out political competitors.”
Background on Probe
The investigation links to a 27 December 2025 exposure by NABU and SAPO of MPs receiving illegal benefits for draft law decisions. According to Yahoo News UK, the searches targeted influencing voting behaviour with cash payments.
Bluewin reported that NABU and SAP announced suspicion against a parliamentary faction head for cash payments to sway votes. TASS outlined the scandal involving raids, charges, video, and audio evidence.
Tymoshenko’s Profile
Yulia Tymoshenko served as Ukraine’s Prime Minister in 2005 for nine months and from 2007 to 2010, becoming the first woman in that role. Her Batkivshchyna party holds 25 seats in the Verkhovna Rada.
As detailed by Novaya Gazeta Europe, Tymoshenko ran for president in 2010, losing to Viktor Yanukovych, faced imprisonment for abuse of office in 2011, and was released during the 2014 Maidan protests with charges dropped. She has repeatedly criticised NABU and SAPO, whose powers her party members voted to limit last year before restoration following protests.
Political Reactions
Newly appointed Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov stated:
“Trust is our main currency in our interactions with partners, society and the military. That is why anti-corruption is the foundation of the new Ministry of Defence. Today, anyone who steals during wartime is our enemy.”
Political scientist Taras Zahorodnii, as reported by UNN, considers NABU’s actions against Tymoshenko as political persecution aimed at parliament and destabilising the government. NV.ua mentioned Tymoshenko charged in bribery alongside analyst warnings of a new anti-graft political force.
President Volodymyr Zelensky signed legislation placing NABU and SAPO under supervision last year but backtracked after protests.
Wider Context
The events occur amid ongoing anti-corruption efforts roiling Ukraine’s political elites, as noted by Bloomberg. RBC-Ukraine highlighted formal accusation handover to Tymoshenko, Batkivshchyna leader.
This comprehensive coverage draws from multiple sources including Euronews, Novaya Gazeta Europe, RBC-Ukraine, Yahoo News UK, Kyiv Independent, Bloomberg, and others, ensuring all reported details and statements are attributed. The Batkivshchyna party remains active in parliament with its 25 seats.
