Yermak remains in pre-trial detention: bail of around €2.7 million not raised in time

Former head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak will spend the night in a pre-trial detention center — the deadline for closing the special bank account to which approximately €2.7 million in bail was required to be transferred has expired.

This was reported by Ukrainian media.

Yermak’s lawyer Ihor Fomin confirmed that a cell had been paid for his client, but was unable to clarify whether he was “in a cell or in an office.” According to Fomin, he does not know the exact amount of contributions collected, but hopes that at least 50% of the required sum was raised.

Journalist Mykhailo Tkach, citing sources in law enforcement, wrote on his Facebook page that the bail had not been paid in time and Yermak remains in pre-trial detention. According to his information, after the court hearing the former head of the Office of the President underwent fingerprinting and other procedures, with the head of the operational unit personally present with him. The management of the detention facility was instructed not to place Yermak in a cell — he was to wait for the bail to be posted in the office of the head of the operational unit.

According to the latest information, less than 15 million hryvnias were actually collected. Reports appeared in the media about specific contributions: Roza Tapanova, a member of the supervisory boards of Ukrnafta and Oschadbank, contributed 8 million hryvnias; lawyer Serhiy Svyryba — a former classmate of Yermak — transferred 6.5 million hryvnias. Actor and producer Hryhoriy Hryshkan contributed 666 hryvnias.

Member of Parliament Yaroslav Zheleznyak, citing sources, reported that many people are refusing to contribute money for Yermak “due to the obvious toxicity of the individual.”

We previously reported that Yermak received a notice of suspicion from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine in a case involving the laundering of approximately €8.9 million in the construction of elite cottages near Kyiv in Kozyn, in the Dynastiya residential complex.