Full bail of 140 million hryvnias (EUR 2.7 million) posted for Yermak

The bail for former head of the Ukrainian President’s Office Andriy Yermak, who is suspected of money laundering on an especially large scale, has been paid in full — 140 million hryvnias (EUR 2.7 million). This means Yermak can be released from the detention facility.

This was reported by Hromadske, citing data from the High Anti-Corruption Court.

The court clarified that the bail money could have been received over the weekend, but verification of funds in the account is only carried out on a working day.

As a result, Andriy Yermak spent four days in the detention facility.

On the evening of May 15, Yermak’s lawyer Ihor Fomin stated that the required bail amount had already been collected, but could not yet be deposited due to banks being closed. The funds were to be credited immediately after financial institutions resumed operations.

Media reported that as of 5:30 p.m. on May 15, 58.8 million hryvnias of bail had been posted for Yermak. In particular, 30 million hryvnias was contributed by former Ukraine national football team coach Serhiy Rebrov.

The Andriy Yermak case — the main points

On May 11, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) announced suspicion against former head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak. The anti-corruption bodies stated that they had exposed an organized group involved in the laundering of 460 million hryvnias “in elite construction near Kyiv” — referring to the Dynastiya cooperative.

Law enforcement officials have classified his alleged actions under Part 3, Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (legalization (laundering) of funds).

Yermak denies the charges and states that he does not own a home in the Dynastiya cooperative. His lawyer called the suspicions “groundless.”

On May 14, the High Anti-Corruption Court selected a preventive measure for Yermak — pre-trial detention with the alternative of bail set at 140 million hryvnias. He was taken into custody in the courtroom. The former head of the President’s Office stated that he “does not have such money” but would try to raise the amount.