EditHigh-stakes bail hearing: former Ukrainian presidential chief of staff faces heavy charges
Anti-corruption authorities seek €3.5 million in bail as Andriy Yermak denies involvement in a major graft scheme tied to the construction and energy sectors
Ukraine’s High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) in Kyiv convened on Tuesday a closely watched hearing to determine a preventive measure for Andriy Yermak, the former head of the Office of the President.
Suspected of participating in an organised criminal group involved in laundering illegally obtained funds, Yermak appeared in court as prosecutors pushed for his detention with an alternative bail of 180 million hryvnias (approximately €3.5 million). The case centers on the alleged laundering of around 460 million hryvnias (roughly €9 million) through the construction of luxury residences in the “Dynasty” complex near Kyiv. The hearing was adjourned and is set to resume, reflecting the complexity and high profile of the proceedings.
Investigators from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) allege that Yermak was part of a group that funneled corrupt proceeds into high-end real estate development in the village of Kozyn, a prestigious suburb south of the capital. According to the prosecution, the scheme involved planning five houses – four for residential use and one for shared purposes, with significant funds traced to embezzlement. Prosecutors presented documents they claim were signed by Yermak, Timur Mindich, and former Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov, authorizing aspects of the residential complex. They also highlighted Yermak’s alleged active role, including approving design concepts and discussing construction details for a property reportedly intended for him, valued at over $1.9 million.
Core allegations and evidence presented in court
Prosecutors argued that risks of witness intimidation justified strict measures, citing threats received by an expert evaluating unfinished “Dynasty” structures. They also noted suspicious deletions of data from state registers, including records of Yermak’s border crossings between November 2025 and May 2026, as well as details of his vehicle. Yermak and his defense team indicated they would address these issues only in closed sessions, referring to sensitive personal “circumstances” that could not be disclosed publicly.
The defence requested additional time to review the case materials, which consist of 16 volumes totaling around 4,000 pages. The judge ruled that the preventive measure would be decided within 72 hours of the suspicion being announced, pushing key decisions to 14 May. Yermak’s lawyer, Ihor Fomin, described the case as unfounded and driven by intense public and political pressure. He emphasized that, in his view, there were simply no legal grounds for the charges. Yermak himself declined to comment extensively to reporters, stating that he owns only an apartment and a car and does not engage in rental properties. When asked whether he could post the requested bail, he offered no response.
The suspicion against Yermak, formally notified on 11 May, falls under Article 209, Part 3 of the Criminal Code – legalization of criminally acquired property committed by an organized group on an especially large scale. If convicted, he could face eight to twelve years in prison, restrictions on holding certain positions, and property confiscation. Yermak has maintained that the accusations rely heavily on assumptions rather than concrete facts.
Operation Midas: unraveling energy sector corruption
The “Dynasty” scheme is closely linked to the broader “Operation Midas,” a major NABU investigation launched publicly on November 10, 2025, targeting large-scale corruption in Ukraine’s energy sector, particularly around the state nuclear power company Energoatom.
During that operation, authorities conducted over 70 searches and uncovered a graft network in which organizers allegedly extracted bribes equivalent to 10-15% of contract values from contractors. These funds were reportedly laundered through “back offices” in central Kyiv, some linked to properties associated with the family of former parliamentarian and Russian senator Andrey Derkach. Overall, the scheme is said to have moved up to $100 million, with portions allegedly financing luxury developments like “Dynasty.” Construction reportedly slowed after suspicions were raised against Chernyshov in June 2025.
Key figures in the case include businessman Timur Mindich, co-owner of the production company “Quarter 95” and a former associate of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who allegedly allocated about $9 million in embezzled funds for the project and was given the code name “Karlson” in intercepted communications. Mindich and associate Alexander Zukerman left Ukraine shortly before the raids and have since been sanctioned and declared wanted. Several high-level officials faced consequences: former ministers, including German Galushchenko, were reportedly arrested or searched, leading to parliamentary dismissals and resignations from oversight bodies.
Throughout the scandal, authorities have stressed that President Zelenskyy himself has never been a subject of the investigation. SAPO head Oleksandr Klymenko publicly reaffirmed that the president “has not been and is not currently involved,” noting that Ukrainian law grants the sitting president immunity from prosecution. Yermak resigned from his influential post in November 2025 amid searches and mounting pressure on the presidential office, though he was not charged at that time.
The case has drawn intense media attention, with dozens of journalists present in the courtroom. Prosecutors sought a closed session for parts of the evidence review, balancing public interest against investigative sensitivities.
Yermak’s defence continues to challenge the prosecution’s narrative, while investigators push forward with forensic examinations, including signature comparisons. The outcome of the bail decision and subsequent proceedings will likely influence public trust in Ukraine’s efforts to combat high-level corruption at a time when transparency and accountability remain critical both domestically and for international partners. The full scope of evidence and counter-arguments will unfold in the coming days as the High Anti-Corruption Court deliberates one of the most prominent cases in recent Ukrainian history.
The article by EUalive’s partner Suspilne in Ukrainian can be found here.
Caption: Andriy Yermak, the former head of the office of the Ukraine President, attends a hearing at the High Anti-Corruption Court in Kyiv, Ukraine 12 May 2026. The court will consider a motion to arrest Andrii Yermak who is charged with laundering property obtained by crime, carrying a potential for a prison term of 8 to 12 years with confiscation of property. EPA/MAXYM MARUSENKO
Updated: May 13, 2026 - 11:39
