Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s former right-hand man was taken into custody on Thursday on money-laundering charges, part of a fight against corruption that is fuelling wartime political tensions.
Investigators on Monday had named Andriy Yermak as an official suspect in a sprawling, multi-episode case that has gripped Ukraine for months and stoked anger among a war-battered population at high-level corruption.
His arrest represents the deepest authorities have dug into the president’s inner circle in their bid to weed out corruption as Kyiv strives for membership in the European Union.
The anti-corruption court also set bail at 140 million hryvnias (US$3.2 million), which would allow Yermak – who served as Zelensky’s chief of staff and has denied the allegations against him – to be released pending a final ruling in his case.
“I don’t have that kind of money, and my lawyer will now work with friends and acquaintances (to raise the money for bail),” Yermak told reporters after the court’s decision.
“My legal team will file an appeal. We will use every legal avenue to seek justice and the truth.”