Andriy Yermak, the former head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, has publicly stated that he does not possess the 180 million hryvnias required for bail in connection with allegations of money laundering. During a court session break, Yermak told reporters, “I definitely do not have such money; I only have what is recorded in my declaration.”
The High Anti-Corruption Court (VAKS) began proceedings on May 12 to determine a preventive measure for Yermak, who is implicated in a case involving the laundering of 460 million hryvnias linked to luxury construction projects near Kyiv. Prosecutors are seeking to detain Yermak, with the option for bail set at 180 million hryvnias.
Valentina Grebenyuk, a prosecutor from the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP), argued that Yermak possesses sufficient resources to evade justice both domestically and internationally. She noted that he currently holds four diplomatic passports, the most recent of which is valid until 2030.
Yermak has dismissed the charges against him as baseless. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) announced on the evening of May 11 that it had uncovered an organized group involved in laundering 460 million hryvnias through elite construction projects in the Kozyn area, located just outside Kyiv. The investigation claims that between 2021 and 2025, the suspects laundered the funds by constructing a cottage settlement on approximately 8 hectares, which included four private residences and a communal spa area.
In addition to Yermak, six others are implicated in the case, including a former deputy prime minister and a businessman identified as a leader of the criminal organization revealed during a special operation in November 2025.
Yermak’s attorney, Ihor Fomin, has denied any involvement by his client in the alleged money laundering, suggesting that the situation is a result of public pressure. He stated on public television, “This entire situation has been provoked by this public pressure.”
In November 2025, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Yermak had submitted his resignation amid a search of his office. The NABU confirmed the execution of investigative actions involving Yermak but did not disclose specific details about the case.
Following the search and his resignation, Yermak expressed his intention to join the front lines and stated he is prepared for any consequences, asserting that he considers himself an “honest and decent person.”
Prior to these developments, MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak revealed that Yermak was referred to as “Ali Baba” in recordings related to the NABU’s investigation into the Midas case. Alexander Klimenko, head of the SAP, confirmed that this codename appears in the recordings, where “Ali Baba” allegedly issues orders to target NABU detectives and may have been involved in attempts to undermine the independence of the NABU and SAP in July 2025, which were thwarted by what were described as “cardboard protests.”
Andriy Yermak, former chief of Ukraine's Presidential Office, has denied allegations of money laundering amid ongoing legal proceedings. He claims he lacks the funds for bail and asserts that the charges against him are unfounded.