Following the scandalous revelations made by the Ukrainian anti-corruption authorities, a court has ruled to detain the former head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, Andriy Yermak, for two months. As a DW correspondent reports from the courtroom, the judge set bail at 140 million hryvnias (about 2.8 million euros) as an alternative to bail.
Despite the decision, Yermak was not immediately arrested. He has five days to raise the money or appeal the decision to the Court of Appeal. If he pays the bail, he will be subject to strict restrictions: he will be required to wear an electronic bracelet, not leave Kyiv, surrender his foreign and diplomatic passports, and refrain from communicating with witnesses and suspects in the case, including Mindych and Chernyshov.
The case began on May 11, when Ukrainian anti-corruption authorities announced the discovery of an organized criminal group. According to the investigation, the group was involved in the legalization of about 460 million hryvnia (about 9 million euros) through elite construction projects near Kyiv. Law enforcement officers have named Andriy Yermak as one of the key participants in this group. Yermak himself categorically denies the charges.
“I remain in Ukraine and have nothing to hide,” he said after the hearing.
The former official also noted that he personally does not have the means to pay such a large bail amount, and that his lawyers will look for the money “among friends and acquaintances.”
