Bribery scandal

House search at Selenskyj’s office boss

Andriy Yermak was the head of President Zelensky's office.(Bild: EPA/MARTIAL TREZZINI)

Ukrainian corruption investigators searched the apartment of Andriy Yermak, head of the presidential office in Kiev, early on Friday morning. The background to this is the massive corruption scandal that has shaken war-torn Ukraine right up to the highest circles. A few hours later, the next bombshell followed: Jermak resigned from office.

In his daily address, President Volodymyr Zelensky explained that Yermak had submitted his letter of resignation. In addition, the presidential office would be reorganized. The head of state thanked his 54-year-old close advisor and announced a reorganization of the presidential office. "I want there to be no rumors or speculation." He said he would hold talks with potential successors on Saturday.

Until the announcement of his resignation, Selenskyj had remained silent about the latest developments in the scandal, which is why there was criticism of his hesitation on Friday. The country, which has been defending itself against Russia's war of aggression for more than three and a half years, has been rocked for weeks by a bribery scandal that reaches all the way into the state leadership.

Hard blow for Selenskyj
Yermak had headed the presidential office since February 2020 and was previously considered the second most powerful man in Ukraine. His forced departure is also seen by observers as a hard blow for Zelensky, who has lost a long-time confidant. The loyalty of the parliamentary faction, on which Zelensky's power in the parliamentary-presidential republic is based, could now also be called into question.

In his video message (see post above), Zelensky warned of pressure from outside and conflict within Ukraine. "If we lose our unity, then we risk losing everything. Ourselves, Ukraine, our future," he said.

"The investigative measures have been approved and are being carried out as part of the ongoing investigation," the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office of Ukraine (SAPO) announced on Telegram on Friday. "Further details will follow." No charges have yet been brought against Yermak, who denies all accusations.

Pressure on Zelensky increases
President Zelensky and his government have been under pressure for weeks due to allegations of bribe payments, particularly in the energy sector. In this context, the energy minister and the justice minister, who had previously headed the energy department himself, were recently dismissed.

Head of delegation at peace talks
Another of Zelensky's confidants, former head of office Jermak, is now the focus of investigations by SAPO and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU). His companion Timur Mindich's house had already been searched. Jermak was not only regarded as Zelensky's right-hand man, he is one of the most influential men in the country and is repeatedly referred to as the eminence grise who pulls the strings in the background. He was also the central figure in the ongoing negotiations with the USA over an end to the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.

Yermak led the Ukrainian negotiating team at the peace talks, and his appointment as head of the delegation last week caused astonishment among political observers in Kiev because, like Zelenskyi, he had found himself in need of an explanation in the wake of the corruption scandal. The investigations have come at the worst possible time for Zelensky: in addition to the international pressure that Trump is exerting on him with his peace plan for Ukraine, there is also the domestic corruption scandal.

Ex-defense minister as a witness
Former Defense Minister Rustem Umjerov has also recently been summoned by corruption investigators in the corruption scandal. The secretary of the National Security Council is considered a witness, the online portal "Ukrajinska Prawda" reported, citing the press service of the authority. The 43-year-old is also one of Kiev's main negotiators in the talks with war opponents Russia and the USA.

Ex-Defense Minister Rustem Umjerow(Bild: APA/Ritzau Scanpix)

Just over two weeks ago, Ukrainian corruption investigators made public findings about bribes worth millions in the energy sector. Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk and her predecessor Herman Halushchenko, who is now Minister of Justice, were dismissed as a result. Several arrests were made.

In July, President Zelenskyi had tried to bring NABU and SAP under his control. At that time, accusations were already being made against Yermak that the hastily passed amendment to the law had been introduced in parliament on his initiative. The aim was to prevent the impending proceedings against Mindich and former deputy head of government Olexiy Chernyshov, who is close to Zelensky, the media reported. After street protests and an intervention by the European Union, Zelensky was forced to change the law again and restore the previous situation.