The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office are conducting searches at the head of the President's Office. Andriy Yermak stated that there are no obstacles for the investigators, writes DW.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) are conducting searches at the residence of the head of the President's Office (PO) of Volodymyr Zelensky - Andriy Yermak. This was reported on Friday, November 28, in a Telegram post by NABU and SAP. "The investigative actions are sanctioned and are being conducted as part of an investigation. Details will follow," the message states.
Yermak: There are no obstacles for investigators
Yermak himself confirmed the fact of the searches. "Today, NABU and SAP are indeed conducting procedural actions at my home. There are no obstacles for the investigators," he wrote on Telegram. "They have been given full access to the apartment, my lawyers are on site, interacting with law enforcement. From my side, there is full cooperation," the official added.
As specified by the newspaper "Ukrainian Truth," the searches are taking place in the government quarter. According to the newspaper, about 10 employees of NABU and SAP entered the territory.
MP from "European Solidarity" Oleksiy Honcharenko believes that "NABU is preparing charges against Yermak." The corresponding post was shared by the deputy on Telegram.
Zelensky refused to dismiss Yermak
Earlier, Zelensky refused to dismiss his ally Yermak amid a corruption scandal surrounding the state energy company "Energoatom." Zelensky commented on the situation during a meeting with deputies of the Verkhovna Rada from the "Servant of the People" party faction, as reported on November 20 by the publications "Ukrainian Truth" and Hromadske.
During the meeting, MP Maryana Bezuhla asked the head of state whether he planned to dismiss the head of the PO and other officials. "Zelensky said that personnel matters in the President's Office are the president's responsibility, and made it clear that there would be no dismissal of Yermak," one of the participants in the conversation with the Ukrainian leader told "Ukrainian Truth."
Verkhovna Rada MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak expressed on November 28 that Zelensky cannot delay the decision on dismissal. "You just need to take a pen and put one signature now," Zheleznyak wrote on Telegram.
Corruption scandal in Ukraine
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office announced on November 10 the uncovering of a large-scale corruption scheme surrounding "Energoatom." The scandal involves ministers of the current Ukrainian government, as well as longtime presidential associate Timur Mindich and financier Alexander Tsukerman. On the same day, law enforcement conducted searches at Mindich's residence, at "Energoatom," and at the Minister of Justice of Ukraine Herman Halushchenko. Mindich himself left Ukraine shortly before this.
On November 12, Zelensky demanded the dismissal of Halushchenko, who had been suspended from duties two days earlier, and Minister of Energy Svitlana Hrynchuk. The Verkhovna Rada voted for the dismissal of both ministers on November 19. Sanctions have been imposed against Mindich and Tsukerman by Zelensky's decree.
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