Investigators from Ukraine’s anti-corruption authorities said on Wednesday that they issued a notice of suspension for a member of former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko’s Fatherland party after searching its offices.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office said the notice was issued for the head of a parliamentary group.

She is suspected of having influenced votes from other parliamentary groups with cash payments.

If convicted, Ms Tymoshenko faces up to 10 years in prison.

After the raid, Ms Tymoshenko stated, “More than 30 men armed to the teeth effectively occupied the building without presenting any documents and took employees hostage.”

She called the measure a big PR stunt.

“I strongly reject all absurd allegations,” said Ms Tymoshenko. 

Ms Tymoshenko said phones, parliamentary documents, and personal savings were seized.

Ms Tymoshenko heads the Fatherland party’s parliamentary group, the third-largest in parliament, with 25 lawmakers.

Last July, Ms Tymoshenko criticised NABU and SAP as instruments of foreign control over Ukraine.

Ms Tymoshenko served as prime minister in 2005 and from 2007 to 2010 and has shaped Ukrainian politics for many years.

The now 65-year-old failed three times in presidential elections.

Between 2011 and 2014, she was imprisoned after a conviction for abuse of office.

At the time, the proceedings against Ms Tymoshenko were internationally criticised as politically motivated. 

(dpa/NAN)