Ukraine's Corruption Fight Takes Aim at Former Leader

Ukraine's anti-corruption investigators are shaking things up again. This time, they've set their sights on Yulia Tymoshenko, a former prime minister and a big name in Ukrainian politics. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) has accused her of being part of a vote-buying scheme. This isn't just a one-time thing, they say. It's a bigger problem, with lawmakers getting paid to vote a certain way or not vote at all. Tymoshenko isn't taking this lying down. She's denied all the accusations but hasn't directly addressed the probe. She's promised to clear her name in court. This is a big deal for Ukraine. The country is trying to join the European Union, and getting rid of corruption is a major step in that direction.This isn't the first time NABU has made waves. Last November, they uncovered a huge kickback scheme in the energy sector. That one involved a former associate of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Now, they're going after Tymoshenko, a populist who's been in politics since the 1990s. Her political influence has waned in recent years, but she's still a notable figure. The probe into Tymoshenko is part of a broader anti-graft campaign. It's not just her; senior ministers and opposition lawmakers have also been caught up in these investigations. Ukraine is trying to clean up its act, but it's clear that corruption runs deep.