Andriy Yermak, the former chief of staff to Ukraine’s president, denied the charges against him in a money laundering case.
Yermak spoke to reporters after a court hearing in Kyiv at which prosecutors presented their case and read out portions of the criminal file. He is suspected of participating in money laundering as part of a criminal group — through the construction of the luxury property development “Dynasty” — with investigators alleging that one of four residences was intended for him.
“I reject all the charges. I would also like to note that starting at 5 a.m. on February 24, 2022, I was almost continuously present and living in the presidential office,” Yermak said. He said he left only to travel to the front with the president and abroad on diplomatic matters.
The court did not impose a pretrial restriction on Yermak at the first hearing, which must take place within 72 hours of a suspect being formally notified of charges. The proceedings will continue on May 13.
The prosecutor said Yermak could flee the investigation, pointing to his professional and social connections in government and outside Ukraine, as well as four diplomatic passports.
On May 11, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) announced that former Ukrainian presidential chief of staff Andriy Yermak had been formally notified of suspicion. He is suspected of laundering 460 million hryvnias (about $10 million) as part of a criminal group through the construction of the “Dynasty” luxury property development outside Kyiv. Prosecutors told the court that the funds may have partly come from a kickback scheme at Energoatom. The prosecutor also said Yermak had tried to conceal his involvement in the cooperative’s construction and visited the site in secret.
SAPO is seeking Yermak’s arrest with bail set as an alternative at 180 million hryvnias (about $4 million). Yermak’s defense attorney said all of the prosecutors’ arguments are based on assumptions and said his client owns only one apartment and one car.
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