War Critic and Zelensky's Presidential Rival Under Investigation for Bribery: “Ukraine is a Fascist Regime”

Ukraine’s Supreme Anti-Corruption Court has decided that former Prime Minister and well-known opposition leader Yulia Tymoshenko will face legal restrictions in an ongoing corruption investigation. On Friday, the court set bail at more than seven million kronor and imposed several limitations on her freedom of movement and political contacts within the country. Tymoshenko, seen as a potential presidential challenger to Zelensky, has called the measures an attempt to sideline her politically. She claims that Ukraine has been taken over by a “fascist regime” led by a clique serving foreign corporate interests.

The court’s decision also means that Tymoshenko, one of Ukraine’s most prominent politicians, is forbidden to leave the capital Kyiv without special permission from investigating authorities. She is also banned from contacting more than 60 members of the Ukrainian parliament and must surrender her foreign passports, reports the German broadcaster Deutsche Welle.

The measures were decided by judge Vitaliy Dubas following a request from Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO). Authorities suspect Tymoshenko of offering bribes to members of the ruling Servant of the People party.

The prosecution initially requested bail to be set at 50 million hryvnia—almost eleven million kronor—but the court opted for a lower amount. The final figure landed at 33 million hryvnia—close to seven million kronor.

During the hearing, several details from the preliminary investigation surfaced. Tymoshenko herself confirmed the identity of the parliamentarian whose conversation with her had previously been disclosed by NABU. The person in question is Ihor Kopytin, a Servant of the People MP and a member of parliament’s Defense and Security Committee. In the investigation documents, he is referred to under the alias “Mazur.”

According to court documents, Kopytin turned to anti-corruption authorities in December 2025 with information about systematic bribery of parliament members. Acting on behalf of law enforcement, he began documenting suspected crimes.

Audio recordings of a conversation between Kopytin and Tymoshenko on January 12 form, according to prosecutors, the most crucial evidence in the case. In the recordings, Tymoshenko talks about wanting to undermine the majority and is interpreted by prosecutors as having offered Kopytin and two other MPs five thousand dollars a month in exchange for voting in line with her Batkivshchyna (Fatherland) party on legislative and appointment matters.

During a search at the Batkivshchyna party office on the night of January 14, NABU investigators say they found cash and documentation of how parliamentarians from various parties had voted. Investigators claim this points to a systematic bribery scheme.

Yulia Tymoshenko, ex-PM and Batkivschyna leader, has been officially charged by NABU with attempting to bribe MPs, offering cash for votes or switching sides. Footage from the raid shows stacks of dollars in her office. Tymoshenko, now in parliament, calls the charges “absurd.” pic.twitter.com/CMYpIfCoCu

— NOELREPORTS ???????? ???????? (@NOELreports) January 14, 2026

Yulia Tymoshenko has consistently rejected the accusations. She has called the recordings released by NABU manipulated and denied that the conversation took place. She also claims the cash was savings clearly reported in declarations.

“First, I want to state very clearly that I have never said such words (as in the NABU recordings, ed. note). And today I will present evidence to the judge that this audio track is entirely falsified,” Tymoshenko said before the court hearing.

She also stated she did not know who the other parliamentarian was whose voice can be heard on the recordings.

During the hearing, she admitted having met Ihor Kopytin on several occasions and discussed parliamentary cooperation but firmly denied any money had been offered.

“But I have never in any way offered money in exchange for votes,” she said before the judge and many journalists present in the courtroom.

The documents found in her office, she described as the result of the party’s ongoing analysis of voting patterns in parliament, and not something illegal. Tymoshenko’s longtime lawyer Dmytro Tytarenko demanded that the prosecution release the full audio recording of the conversation and that Ihor Kopytin be called as a witness in court.

In her court statements, Tymoshenko compared the case to previous legal actions against her, claiming she is once again the target of political persecution. In 2011, she was sentenced to seven years in prison in a financial case linked to a gas contract with Russia, having negotiated the supply as prime minister and being accused of causing economic losses to Ukraine due to alleged Russian advantages. Tymoshenko was released early in 2014 due to health issues.

“Someone is trying to sweep away rivals”

At the same time, Tymoshenko has also turned to social media to inform the Ukrainian public about the proceedings against her. She argues that the Ukrainian election appears to be approaching and someone is trying to clear out candidates intending to run.

The search is a grand PR stunt. They found nothing, so they just took my work phones, parliamentary documents, and personal savings, all of which are fully declared in the official records. I strongly reject all absurd accusations. It seems the election is much closer than it first appeared, and someone has decided to start clearing out competitors. This is not the first time I’ve endured political attacks; persecution and terror have been my daily routine for many years.

“Fascist Regime”

In court, Tymoshenko did not hold back when addressing the accusations she rejects. The Ukrainian top politician said she will fight until Ukraine is freed from the “clique that has seized power”—referring to President Volodymyr Zelensky’s circle.

“I am not going to hide, and I will not take a single step out of the country—who else will save it?” she asked in the courtroom.

She further described the proceedings as repression by a “fascist regime” that, according to her, wants to stop her efforts to defend Ukraine’s sovereignty against foreign corporate interests.

????????A trial has begun in Ukraine against former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. She stated that Ukraine is currently under a fascist regime

The court is currently deciding on a preventive measure.

Yulia Tymoshenko says she has no intention of fleeing the country until it is… pic.twitter.com/Q9R1bBiMis

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) January 16, 2026

“A Political Battle—Not Justice”

Tymoshenko also claims the court is trying to limit public oversight of her proceedings. She argues that the measures aim to eliminate her party from parliament.

“The judge banned public broadcasting to conceal the political motive behind this openly orchestrated case against me. This is a political battle, not justice!” she has written on Facebook.

Identified as Zelensky’s Rival

Since last spring, President Zelensky has led Ukraine without a renewed mandate, as the presidential election was postponed due to the war. At the same time, both the US and Russia have signaled that Ukraine will need to hold an election in the foreseeable future.

In a future election, President Zelensky could face a challenge from, among others, Yulia Tymoshenko, who is considered one of Ukraine’s top politicians. She has previously competed in several presidential elections and has suggested she is considering running again. Several media outlets, including Newsweek, have deemed it likely she would stand against her longtime rival, Zelensky.

However, Tymoshenko’s potential plans may now have come to an abrupt end due to the recent bribery allegations.

Tymoshenko claims the “fascist regime” wants to eliminate opposition. Photo: President.gov.ua / Facsimile Facebook

Does Not Want to Prolong the War

Samnytt reported in May last year that Yulia Tymoshenko was strongly critical of NATO countries’ continued pressure to prolong the war in Ukraine. This came in response to statements from European leaders that the war in Ukraine must continue to save the rest of Europe from a Russian attack.

“If the war in Ukraine ends earlier, Russia can more quickly shift its resources towards Europe. Threats or blackmail could occur sooner than expected. It all ties together—an early end to the war in Ukraine frees up resources against Europe,” said German intelligence chief Bruno Kahl.

One of those who bristled at this was former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko herself, who does not want to see the war prolonged because it is costing Ukraine its very existence and hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian lives.

“IF THE WAR IN UKRAINE ENDS BEFORE 2030, RUSSIA CAN USE ITS RESOURCES FOR AGGRESSION AGAINST EUROPE EARLIER THAN EXPECTED,” she wrote in a capitalized post on Facebook, continuing:

“Has anyone decided that the price for ‘weakening’ Russia—for Europe’s security—should be paid with Ukraine’s very existence and hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian lives? I didn’t think anyone would dare say this so openly and officially… It explains a lot…”