An investigative court focused on anti-corruption issues in Ukraine has placed former chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, under house arrest. Yermak is a close confidant of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and is allegedly suspected of involvement in money laundering. According to reports, he is also accused of maintaining deep contacts with an esoteric consultant from whom he supposedly sought advice on political decisions based on astrology.
The court set the required bond payment at 140 million UAH (approximately 2.72 million euros), a sum that allows Yermak to remain at large until a final ruling in his case. Following the court’s decision, Yermak stated that he does not possess the necessary financial resources, and that his lawyer would now work to raise the funds through friends and associates. He announced that his legal team plans to appeal the ruling and utilize all available legal means to achieve “justice and truth”. Yermak continues to deny all charges. Separately, President Zelenskyy himself is currently not under suspicion.
Yermak previously served as Zelenskyy’s chief of staff and was known for leading major negotiations between Ukraine and the United States. He resigned last November due to a comprehensive corruption investigation.