Zelensky: Tymoshenko's charges are not related to elections

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the charges against Yulia Tymoshenko, leader of the Batkivshchyna parliamentary faction, in offering unlawful benefits to MPs, are not related to the upcoming elections.

According to a Ukrinform correspondent, President Volodymyr Zelensky made this statement during a conversation with journalists, responding to a question about the possible “link” between the investigation into the leader of the parliamentary faction and the upcoming elections in Ukraine.

“I don't see how this is related to the elections in Ukraine. What happened, probably — from what I saw in the video and the investigation's details — was a desire to do something about the mono-majority. This is probably not the first time, and it will not be the last. Everyone wants to influence the mono-majority in some way,” he said.

Zelensky added that it is not correct to compare the situation surrounding Tymoshenko with that during Yanukovych's presidency.

Read also: Tymoshenko states that recording of her conversation with MP Kopytin was edited

As reported by Ukrinform, on January 14, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office announced that they had notified the leader of one of the parliamentary factions of the Verkhovna Rada that she was suspected of offering unlawful benefits to members of parliament. Yulia Tymoshenko confirmed the searches in the Batkivshchyna office but rejected all accusations.

On January 16, the High Anti-Corruption Court chose a preventive measure for Tymoshenko in the form of a bail of UAH 33 million. Tymoshenko said she would appeal the decision of the High Anti-Corruption Court.

On January 19, Tymoshenko said she had to pay the bail by Wednesday, or the prosecution would have the right to file a motion with the court to change her preventive measure to a more severe one.

On January 20, more than UAH 13 million of the UAH 33 million bail previously imposed on Tymoshenko by the High Anti-Corruption Court as a preventive measure was paid on her behalf.

Ukrinform's photos can be purchased here.