Ukraine anti-corruption agents search home of Zelensky’s top adviser Yermak
Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies began searching the apartment of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s private secretary Andriy Yermak.
One of the two agencies, anti-corruption bureau Nabu, confirmed that investigative investigations had been authorized and said more details were to come.
Many figures close to Zelensky have been implicated in a corruption scandal, but neither he nor his right-hand man Yermak has been charged with any crime.
Yermak played a pivotal role in Ukraine’s response to Russia’s full-scale war, and he is Kiev’s chief negotiator in peace talks with the United States. But his position has become increasingly threatened by critics who want him to leave.
Yermak confirmed on social media that both the anti-corruption bureau and the prosecutor’s office specializing in anti-corruption (Sapo) were “conducting procedural proceedings at my home” and had full access to his apartment along with their lawyers.
He added that they are cooperating fully.
Ukraine has been rocked this month by a corruption scandal in which several prominent public figures have been linked by investigators to a $100 million (£75 million) embezzlement scandal in the energy sector.
Nabu and Sapo, two anti-corruption agencies, said they had uncovered a comprehensive scheme to influence and extort kickbacks from state-owned companies, including state-owned nuclear energy company Enerhoatom.
A number of suspects have already been charged in connection with the scandal, which angered the public due to allegations that money was transferred from important infrastructure projects that are vital for the protection of Ukraine’s energy resources.
Russian attacks have caused extensive damage to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, leaving Ukrainians across the country with only a few hours of electricity a day.
Zelensky has already dismissed two ministers and detained several suspects in connection with the scandal. Timur Mindich, one of the president’s former business partners, fled the country.
He co-owned the TV studio where Zelensky’s acting career took off before he was elected president.
