Andriy Yermak Appears in Kyiv Court Over Money-Laundering Scheme Linked to Luxury Project

Andriy Yermak, Volodymyr Zelensky’s former right-hand man, appeared in a Kyiv court on Tuesday after Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies named him a suspect in a money-laundering scheme linked to a luxury construction project outside Kyiv.

“Andriy Yermak, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s former chief of staff and close aide, is now at the centre of the country’s biggest corruption investigation since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022”

Al Jazeera

The European Conservative reported that Yermak’s lawyer denounced the allegations as “baseless,” and that prosecutors were asking the Kyiv court to either place him in preventive detention or set bail at approximately €3.4 ($4m).

Al Jazeera

Al Jazeera said Yermak is suspected of involvement in an organised criminal group that allegedly laundered about 460 million hryvnias ($10.5m) through a luxury real estate project near Kyiv, and that prosecutors are seeking to impose bail of about $5.4m.

Al Jazeera also quoted Yermak, who after a court hearing described the accusations as “unfounded,” and said he “owns only one apartment and one car.”

Al Jazeera reported that Yermak’s lawyer, Ihor Fomin, labelled the allegations “groundless” and denied any role by Yermak in laundering funds through the high-end development.

In the same Al Jazeera account, NABU director Semen Kryvonos defended the proceedings, saying authorities move to issue formal notices only when they believe they possess enough evidence to sustain charges in court, while clarifying that Zelensky was not subject to any investigation.

AML Intelligence

The European Conservative added that Yermak told reporters, “I do not have a house; I only have one flat and one car,” hours before the court hearing.

Balkanweb said Zelensky’s communications adviser Dmytro Lytvyn stated it was still too early to comment because “procedural actions are still ongoing,” as pressure mounted on Zelensky’s inner circle after Yermak was named a suspect.

Al Jazeera said the scandal could potentially threaten Ukraine’s aspirations for European Union membership as it seeks to convince the bloc that its anticorruption drive is on track, even as Zelensky is not accused of wrongdoing.

“New political pressure is mounting on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's inner circle after anti-corruption authorities in Ukraine announced that the former head of the presidential office and his close associate, Andriy Yermak, is considered a suspect in a major corruption and money laundering case”

Balkanweb

The Globe and Mail reported that prosecutors told a media briefing in Kyiv that Rustem Umerov, head of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, has been questioned and is a witness in the case revolving around a luxury real estate development near the capital.

Euronews said the Midas case widened further, charging former Energy Minister Herman Halouchtchenko with money laundering and participation in a criminal organization connected to the Energoatom corruption probe, and said the investigation first shook Ukraine in November.

Euronews also reported that NABU said the group began to set up a fund on the island of Anguilla in February 2021, aiming to raise about 118 million euros, while more than 8.8 million euros were transferred to the fund’s accounts controlled by Halouchtchenko’s family.