Photo: EPA
NABU and the specialised anti-corruption prosecutor’s office have confirmed that searches are underway at the office and residence of Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian president’s office.
According to their statement issued at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, 28 November, the investigative actions were court-approved and are being conducted as part of an ongoing investigation. More details are expected later.
On Friday morning, journalists from Ukrainska Pravda reported seeing around ten NABU and SAP officers entering the government quarter.
Earlier, the leadership of Ukraine’s anti-corruption bodies met with President Volodymyr Zelensky after uncovering large-scale corruption in the energy sector. During the meeting, the president was informed that investigators were prepared to issue notices of suspicion to Yermak and to national security and defence council secretary Rustem Umerov. Following that conversation, Zelensky appointed Yermak and Umerov as heads of Ukraine’s negotiating delegation.
At the start of the week, NABU chief Semen Kryvonos said more corruption-related suspicions within the “Midas” case are expected. He also noted that the illicit funds were not limited to the energy sector.
According to MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak, Yermak appears on the so-called “Mindich tapes” under the alias “Ali Baba,” allegedly directing pressure on NABU and SAP. Yermak, however, claims the scandal was triggered by oligarch Ihor Kolomoiskyi, who has been held in an SBU detention facility for the past three years.
