By Joost BOSMAN
Andri Yermak, the former right-hand man and friend of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, has been arrested in Kyiv and placed in pre-trial detention for allegedly laundering around $9 million. He denies the charge. Will this corruption scandal reflect badly on Zelensky and Ukraine?
Yermak is linked to the construction of a luxury residential complex outside Kyiv, according to SAPO, an anti-corruption agency established after the 2014 popular uprising.
SAPO and its fellow anti-corruption body NABU claim that over the past few years, more than 460 million hryvnias ($8.9 million) was siphoned off through the project via a network of shell companies, cash transactions, and fictitious financial documents.
Police allege that the group of suspects planned to build four private villas, each approximately 1,000 square meters, along with a shared wellness complex and swimming pool. The estimated cost of each property ran into the millions of dollars.
$100 million
The case is part of an investigation into a $100 million corruption scandal surrounding the Ukrainian nuclear energy agency Energoatom. That case shook Ukraine to its core in November and is the largest corruption investigation during Zelensky's presidency.
In the Energoatom case, nine suspects have already been charged, including Timur Mindich (a close friend of Zelensky), a former deputy prime minister, and a former minister of energy and justice.
Although Yermak was not a direct suspect, Zelensky dismissed him to clear the air. Yermak is a lawyer and former producer for Zelensky's comedy company, Kvartal 94. Until his dismissal, he was regarded as the most powerful man in the country after the president.
Yermak denies
One of the luxury houses near Kyiv, financed through the Energoatom corruption scandal, was reportedly intended for Yermak, but he denied this on Monday to news outlet Ukrainska Pravda. "I don't own any houses, I only have an apartment and a car, which you have seen."
For now, Zelensky enjoys presidential immunity
Ukrainian political scientist Volodymyr Fesenko acknowledges that the entire affair surrounding Yermak could have consequences for Zelensky, both in Ukraine and abroad. "Reputational problems will undoubtedly arise, which could endanger Zelensky's re-election," Fesenko said by phone from Kyiv to this website.
"But as experience shows, losses in popularity can be recovered. For example, trust in Zelensky dropped by 10 percent after the Energoatom scandal broke, but recovered after he stood up bravely against pressure from the United States (in negotiations with Russia, ed.)."
If the investigation ultimately shows that Zelensky was at least aware of the wrongful actions of Yermak, Mindich, and others, Fesenko believes he is not in immediate danger. "In the future, yes, but for now he enjoys presidential immunity."
Positive side
Fesenko also sees something positive in the corruption case: "It certainly gives ammunition to Ukraine's critics, but you could also say that at least there is an investigation into corruption. If you don't investigate, you won't find anything either."
The political scientist also does not think the corruption case will weaken ties between Ukraine and the European Union. "Brussels is not looking at Zelensky as an individual, but at Ukraine as a whole. And in that context, the security aspect of Europe plays a much more important role than fighting corruption."
Original article: ad.nl