The Ukrainian Parliament’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Dmytro Lubinets, disclosed that Andrii Yermak, the former head of the President’s Office, reached out to him with a proposal for collaboration following his departure from the office.
According to Lubinets, Yermak contacted him in his new capacity as a lawyer and chair of the committee at the National Association of Lawyers of Ukraine. He indicated that Yermak expressed interest in working together to protect the rights of individuals affected by the war, suggesting the signing of a memorandum.
Lubinets declined Yermak’s offer, explaining that he believed signing such a memorandum would undermine his ability to fulfill his responsibilities effectively. He stated, “If I sign a memorandum with additional tools for human rights protection, I automatically fail to perform my duties.”
For context, Andrii Yermak served as head of the President’s Office from 2020 until his dismissal in 2025. Following his exit, he returned to legal practice and took on a leadership role in the committee focused on the rights of military personnel within the National Association of Lawyers of Ukraine. Previously, Yermak had signed a similar memorandum with the office of the military ombudsman.
Recent developments include a ruling from the High Anti-Corruption Court on May 14, which placed Yermak under a preventive measure of detention with the possibility of bail set at 140 million hryvnias. Following the court session, Yermak expressed surprise at the decision, stating he lacked the funds but had friends who could assist. He was released from custody on May 18 after bail was posted on his behalf.
Dmytro Lubinets revealed that Andrii Yermak proposed collaboration after resigning from his position as head of the President's Office. Lubinets declined the offer, citing concerns about his role in protecting human rights.