Ukrainian authorities are unraveling a scheme to launder millions through luxury real estate near Kyiv. The former head of the president’s office Jermak is supposed to be at the center of suspicion.
Ukrainian anti-corruption authorities suspect the former head of the president’s office Andriy Jermak of participating in money laundering. The Ukrainian media reported on this on Monday evening, TASR writes, according to a Reuters report.
- Ukrainian anti-corruption authorities suspect Andriy Jermak of money laundering.
- Investigators have identified an organized group laundering 460 million hryvnias through real estate.
- The former head of the presidential office is identified as one of the group’s members.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP) announced on the Telegram platform that they had uncovered an organized group involved in the legalization of 460 million hryvnias (roughly nine million euros) through the construction of luxury real estate near Kyiv.
Suspicions surrounding Jermak
One of the members of this group is the former head of the Ukrainian president’s office, the statement says, but his name is not listed in accordance with the law. However, according to the Ukrainian media, the mentioned person is Jermak, against whom investigative actions are being conducted.
Jermak, who was considered the gray eminence and right-hand man of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, resigned as the head of his office at the end of November as a result of a large-scale corruption scandal in the Ukrainian energy sector.
Key suspects and corruption scandal
The main suspect in the case of influencing strategic state enterprises and accepting bribes in the amount of approximately 100 million dollars is Timur Mindič, a friend and former business partner of Zelensky. Due to the scandal, several ministers resigned and Mindič fled the country.
