Ukraine's top anti-corruption court sets UAH 33-mln bond for Timoshenko

MOSCOW. Jan 16 (Interfax) - The High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine has set an UAH 33-million bond, an equivalent of some $767,600, for Yulia Timoshenko, the leader of the Batkivshchyna parliamentary faction, suspected of offering "unlawful benefit" to legislators, Ukrainian media reported on Friday.

The judge ordered applying a "bond in the amount of [...] UAH 33.28 million as a restrictive measure" to Timoshenko, which may be deposited on the court's account by the suspect herself or another person within five days.

The court also subjected Timoshenko to procedural obligations, including "appearing on every summons by a NABU [National Anticorruption Bureau of Ukraine] detective or a court, not leaving the geographical boundaries of the Kiev region, and reporting any changes to her place of residence or employment."

Timoshenko must also turn in her foreign travel documents. The court did not order that she wear an electronic bracelet.

On January 14, Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies, the NABU and the Special Anticorruption Prosecutor's Office, notified Timoshenko of being suspected of "offering unlawful benefit to MPs of Ukraine." Investigators concluded that "the suspect initiated negotiations with individual MPs regarding the implementation of a systemic mechanism for providing unlawful benefit in exchange for loyal conduct during voting."

Timoshenko dismissed the accusations, describing them as a "political order." She also said that she would appeal the court ruling if it ordered a bond.