Head of Presidential Office Andriy Yermak to Defend Disqualified Skeleton Athlete Following Raids and Resignation

Yermak Takes on Case of Disqualified Athlete Heraskevych

According to Главком: Andriy Yermak, the Head of the President's Office, has joined the legal team challenging the disqualification of Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych from the 2026 Olympics. This move follows searches conducted on November 28 by Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) within the President's Office. In the wake of these events, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Yermak's resignation. The situation highlights the intersection of high-level politics and sports advocacy in Ukraine.

Grounds for the Disqualification

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) disqualified Vladyslav Heraskevych for wearing a helmet featuring images of Ukrainian athletes killed by Russian occupiers during a 2026 Olympic training session, defying an IOC ban. Andriy Yermak, who has held a license to practice law since December 12, 1995, decided to join the athlete's defense. His involvement comes at a politically turbulent time for his own career.

During the raids in the government quarter, approximately 10 NABU and SAPO officers entered the premises of the President's Office. Subsequently, President Zelenskyy announced a reboot of the Office and consultations on a new candidate for its leadership. Yermak's role as Heraskevych's lawyer was confirmed by his colleague, Miller Masi Nayyem, who stated Yermak has engaged in communication regarding the case. The athlete's helmet protest was a powerful, silent statement on the ongoing war's impact on Ukrainian sports.

This case underscores the complex dynamics between political power, sport, and international governing bodies. Heraskevych's disqualification has sparked outrage among Ukrainian athletes and the public, potentially affecting Ukraine's reputation in international sports. Yermak's legal actions may represent an attempt not only to defend the athlete but also to assert Ukrainian national identity on the global stage, given the context of war and aggression from Russia.