Former right-hand man of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been apprehended on Thursday on charges of money laundering, as part of an ongoing battle against corruption that is contributing to political tensions during wartime.
Andriy Yermak was formally named as a suspect in a significant multi-episode case by investigators on Monday, sparking widespread interest in Ukraine and heightening public outrage over high-level corruption.
The arrest of Yermak signifies the authorities’ deep dive into the president’s inner circle in their efforts to eradicate corruption as Kyiv aims for EU membership.
The anti-corruption court has imposed a bail of $3.2 million US for Yermak, Zelenskyy’s former chief of staff, who has refuted the accusations against him. This bail amount could secure Yermak’s release pending a final ruling in his case.
“I do not possess such funds, and my legal counsel will be collaborating with friends and acquaintances to secure the bail money,” Yermak informed reporters following the court’s decision.
“My legal team is planning to appeal. We will exhaust all legal avenues in pursuit of justice and truth.”
A U.S.-brokered 72-hour truce between Russia and Ukraine is set to end on Monday. Both sides are accusing each other of breaching it. Journalist Emmanuelle Chaze reports from Kharkiv, where she says the sound of air raid sirens is a constant.
Yermak is accused by anti-corruption agencies of involvement in a criminal ring that allegedly laundered approximately $10.5 million US through an upscale real estate project near Kyiv.
This case is part of a wider operation called “Midas,” revealed last November, with the primary suspect being Timur Mindich, a former business partner of Zelenskyy.
Mindich faces allegations of orchestrating a $100 million US kickback scheme in the energy sector, which stirred controversy in Ukraine during a critical phase of the conflict with Russia. Mindich has fled to Israel and denies any wrongdoing.
The case against Yermak also connects Mindich and another Zelenskyy associate, former deputy prime minister Oleksiy Chernyshov, to the money laundering activity in the Kyiv region. Chernyshov, who is confronting charges in a separate incident, has similarly denied any illegal actions.
The scandal resurfaced before the charges against Yermak were made public, following leaks by Ukrainian media and opposition legislators of what they claimed were transcripts from a wiretap involving Mindich discussing the Kyiv project.
In one excerpt, Mindich and an unidentified woman purportedly discuss properties, as well as individuals referred to as “Andriy” and “Vova,” the latter being a casual variation of “Volodymyr.”
