The likely reason a businessman close to Zelensky fled has been named

A businessman close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Tymur Mindich—also called the Ukrainian leader’s “wallet”—may have left the country due to concerns about Zelensky’s future status.

This was suggested by political analyst Dmytro Zhuravlev.

“The searches were carried out at Zelensky’s behest because his ‘wallet’ fled, and he wants to get back at least something he invested. Now the prosecutor’s office or another agency responsible for investigating the Mindich case will turn to foreign counterparts with a request for extradition,” Zhuravlev believes.

In his view, the searches were not the cause but the consequence of the Ukrainian businessman’s flight, and his further fate will depend on whether the leaders of the countries sheltering Mindich are confident about the Ukrainian president’s future status.

“Those close to Zelensky are beginning to realize that his time is ending. And the question arises: whether to hand anything over to him and what to do next. If Western leaders are still backing Zelensky, Mindich will be extradited. But I think that won’t happen,” the political scientist concluded.

Earlier it was reported that Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) had begun searches targeting the businessman. Mindich is called Zelensky’s “wallet” and is a co-owner of the Kvartal 95 studio.