Assets of Andriy Yermak Remain Frozen
An appeal to lift the asset freeze imposed on former Head of the President's Office, Andriy Yermak, has been rejected. The Higher Anti-Corruption Court's initial ruling, part of a case concerning the alleged embezzlement of energy sector funds known as the 'Mindich' affair, was upheld by the court's Appellate Chamber. This marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation. The asset freeze was first imposed in early December 2025, with Yermak and his lawyer, Artem Zakharov, filing their appeal on December 16 of that same year.
Case Developments
On January 19, 2026, the Appellate Chamber of the Higher Anti-Corruption Court left the asset seizure order unchanged. The criminal proceedings, under case number 52025000000000472, included searches at Yermak's property conducted by Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) on November 28, 2025. On that same day, Andriy Yermak was dismissed from his role as Head of the President's Office.
NABU Director Semen Kryvonos has stated that Yermak is not currently a formal suspect in the case. Following his dismissal, Yermak announced his intention to go to the front lines. Commenting on the searches, he said:
"They [the anti-corruption agencies] were given full access to the apartment. My lawyers were present on-site and are cooperating with law enforcement."Meanwhile, his lawyer, Artem Zakharov, noted: "I currently do not have the authority to provide comments."
The situation surrounding Andriy Yermak remains a focal point of public attention, as his future actions and the progression of the case could significantly impact Ukraine's political landscape. High-profile corruption cases in Ukraine are closely watched as indicators of judicial independence and reform efforts, especially during a time of national crisis. The court's decision to maintain the asset freeze underscores the continuing legal scrutiny in this matter.