The High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine did not manage to choose a preventive measure for the former head of the president's office, Andriy Yermak. Yermak is suspected of money laundering during the construction of elite real estate in Kyiv region.
The High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) of Ukraine on Tuesday, May 12, did not manage to choose a preventive measure for the former head of the president's office, Andriy Yermak. As reported by a correspondent of "Deutsche Welle" from the courtroom, the hearings on the case of Yermak's arrest will continue on May 13. The HACC agreed to postpone the session at the request of the defense, which did not have time to familiarize itself with 16 volumes of the prosecution materials.
A few hours earlier, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) requested the court to arrest Yermak for two months with the possibility of posting bail in the amount of 180 million hryvnias (about 3.5 million euros).
The day before, Ukraine's anti-corruption law enforcement agencies informed Andriy Yermak that he was suspected of legalizing property obtained by criminal means as part of an organized group. This crime is punishable by imprisonment for a term of 8 to 12 years.
NABU: Zelensky is not involved in the investigation
NABU Director Semen Kryvonos emphasized at a briefing in Kyiv that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky is not mentioned in the investigation materials regarding the "Dynasty" cooperative. Earlier, several Ukrainian investigative journalists reported on the possible involvement of Zelensky in one of the four houses of the cooperative.
In the transcript of a conversation with businessman Timur Mindich, published by the newspaper "Ukrainian Truth," the head of construction mentions that two of the four houses on the site belong to some Andriy and Vova. Kryvonos refused to clarify why Zelensky is not mentioned in the investigation - whether due to the absence of claims against him or due to presidential immunity.
Details of the Yermak case
According to anti-corruption agencies, the organized group, of which the former head of the president's office was a part, is involved in the legalization of 460 million hryvnias during the construction of the elite cottage settlement "Dynasty" in Kyiv region.
As NABU reported, in 2018, former Vice Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov (referred to as "Che Guevara" in NABU materials) became a co-founder of LLC BLOOM Development. In the summer of 2019, this company purchased more than four hectares of land from the Kozyn village council in Kyiv region, which then became the basis for future construction.
The concept of building the "Dynasty" cottages, according to the investigation, emerged in May 2020. In June of the same year, Timur Mindich ("Karlson") and Andriy Yermak (R2) joined the construction.
As NABU emphasized, the cost of the land plots where construction was planned ranged from four to 20 thousand dollars per hundred square meters. Residences for members of the organized group were to be built on plots with a total area of more than eight hectares, and their cost could exceed 6 million dollars. "After June 2021, the financing of the construction of the 'Dynasty' residence began, that is, the legalization of funds obtained by criminal means," NABU reported.
According to anti-corruption agencies, from 2021 to 2025, the organized group laundered 8.9 million dollars, which were then used for the construction of "Dynasty." The investigation believes that the funds were obtained from operations in the so-called "laundromat," which ensured the accumulation and legalization of funds. They came from various sources, including through corrupt schemes in "Energoatom." "In total, the participants of 'Dynasty' legalized funds amounting to more than 460 million hryvnias during the construction of the residences," NABU concluded, sharing details with "Deutsche Welle."
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