Zelensky’s silence on the Yermak case: State Duma claims attempt to “whitewash” ally

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s silence following the arrest of his former chief of staff Andriy Yermak may be linked to the head of state’s desire to “whitewash” his ally.

This opinion was expressed to Gazeta.Ru by Svetlana Zhurova, first deputy chairwoman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs.

“He is trying to justify him, perhaps trying to whitewash him. In such cases it is probably better to stay silent. I don’t think the West, if these are already proven and indisputable facts [of corruption], will allow him to do that,” the parliamentarian said.

According to Zhurova, in the situation with Yermak, every word spoken by the Ukrainian leader could be used against the president’s ally.

German magazine Spiegel also noted Zelensky’s silence, calling it “a very dangerous sign” that could become a “catastrophe” for the Ukrainian president.

On May 14, Ukraine’s High Anti-Corruption Court ordered Yermak to be held in custody for 60 days, with the possibility of release on bail of approximately €2.6 million. The former official stated that he does not have that kind of money. Yermak was taken into custody right in the corridor of the courthouse.

On May 12, Ukrainian anti-corruption officials charged Yermak with “laundering” approximately €8.9 million through the construction of an elite cottage settlement in the Kyiv region. NABU published recordings in which the scheme was discussed, as well as correspondence in which Yermak discussed a house design project with a designer. The former official himself denies his guilt.