Ex-Presidential Office Head Yermak Detained by Anti-Corruption Court, Set $3.5 Million Bail

The Case Against Andriy Yermak

According to Главком: Ukraine's High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) has ordered the pre-trial detention of Andriy Yermak, the former head of the Presidential Office. In addition to custody, the court imposed a bail amount of 140 million hryvnias (approximately $3.5 million). Should the bail be posted, Yermak will be subject to specific restrictions, including:

• A ban on leaving Kyiv without prior approval from the court or investigator;
• Surrender of all foreign passports;
• Prohibition from communicating with other suspects in the case, such as Oleksiy Chernyshov, Tymur Mindich, and others.

According to the prosecution, in 2020 Yermak conspired with Mindich and Chernyshov to construct cottages in the village of Kozyn. The funding for these residences is alleged to have come from illicit proceeds. SAP prosecutor Valentyna Grebenyuk stated:

'Large sums of money were funneled through the actual founders of the service cooperative, the Zhytlovo-Budivelny Kooperativ Sonyachny Bereh... Additional construction funds were channeled from the office of a criminal organization, which Mindich is said to have established.'

The investigation believes Yermak's actions constitute a criminal offense under Part 3 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which addresses the laundering of illegally obtained property by an organized group. This charge carries a potential sentence of 8 to 12 years in prison, along with a ban on holding certain positions or engaging in specific activities for up to three years, and asset forfeiture.

Andriy Yermak has denied the allegations, stating: 'I have never given anyone any instructions regarding representing my interests in any matters or conversations. I did not purchase or rent anything. I also did not pay anyone any money... Regarding the names and nicknames mentioned in court: my name is Andriy Yermak, given to me by my parents. People call me Andriy or Andriy Borisovych. I have no other names-I am Andriy Yermak.'

Investigation and Implications

In 2025, the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) completed a full audit of Yermak's asset declaration, concluding there were no signs of illicit enrichment or unjustified assets. However, two investigative reports published in July and October of last year detailed the construction of several cottages in the elite Kozyn settlement, sparking fresh inquiries. In August 2025, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) launched a new investigation into large-scale money laundering.

Notably, in 2012, the firms KO Company and Bloom Development purchased the entire property complex of the Sonyachna recreation center in Kozyn-spanning 4.24 hectares-for 2.4 million hryvnias. The land was owned by the Kozyn settlement council, which had leased it to Bloom Development for 49 years. In July 2019, the council sold the plot to the tenant company for 9 million hryvnias.

The case against Andriy Yermak carries significant weight for Ukraine's political and legal landscape. The charges could erode public trust in state institutions and fuel broader discussions about corruption risks at the highest levels of power. This episode underscores the critical need for independent anti-corruption bodies capable of operating without political interference-a cornerstone for the continued development of the rule of law in Ukraine.

In light of these recent developments, it is important to note that Yermak had previously received a notice of suspicion from NABU, highlighting the ongoing scrutiny surrounding his actions. This earlier notification may shed further light on the allegations and the broader implications for Ukraine's anti-corruption efforts. For a deeper understanding of the situation, you can read more about the suspicions raised against Yermak.