Kiev.- Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, He announced on Friday that his right-hand man and powerful chief of staff, Andrei Yermak, the introduction He resigned in the middle corruption scandal, Only when Kyiv is trying hard to negotiate with the United States A plan to end the war with Russia.
The resignation became known shortly after the announcement by Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies They searched Yermak’s home on Friday morning.
In a message he posted on his Telegram channel, Zelensky announced a plan to “relaunch” his office, after the resignation of his chief advisor.
“I thank Andriy for always presenting the Ukrainian position on the negotiating track as it should. It has always been a patriotic position. But I want there to be no rumors or speculation.“Wrote the president who has been persecuted for two weeks due to the corruption scandal in the energy sector.
He added that this Saturday He will hold “consultations” on who can take over.
Zelensky explained that this decision comes because of… Ukraine needs to “strengthen itself internally” At an important moment in the talks about A The potential peace agreement promoted by North American President Donald Trump.
Yermak, 54 years old, He led the Ukrainian delegation in talks with Washington He is one of the most important members of Zelensky’s team, even amid questions about his possible connection to the corruption case.
However, the two national agencies combating rampant corruption in Ukraine, the Anti-Corruption Agency (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAP), announced on Friday that they Raid the house of the powerful official.
“Researchers found no obstacles.” Yermak later said, confirming the operation that took place in his apartment inside the presidential complex in central Kiev. Local media reported that the chief of staff’s office was also searched, but investigators declined to comment.
Both organizations Leading a major investigation into a $100 million energy corruption scandal It involved senior Ukrainian officials and has made national headlines in recent weeks. Because of the scandal there was Arrests and dismissal of two ministers.
Zelensky imposed sanctions on the alleged organizer, taymur mendić, Your old one Business partner and close friend.
Mendic has fled the country and any criminal proceedings against him are likely to take place in absentia.
Two of Yermak’s former deputies, Oleh Tatarov and Rostislav Churma, left the government in 2024 after watchdogs investigated them for financial irregularities. The third, Andrey Smirnov, has been investigated for bribery and other offenses, but still works for Yermak.
The scandal exacerbated Zelensky’s problems. Which seeks to obtain continued support from Western countries for the war effort in Ukraine and tries to ensure the continuity of foreign funding. The European Union, which Ukraine aspires to join, urged the Ukrainian president to make this decision Strict measures against corruption.
Confront Zelensky An unprecedented rebellion from his lawmakers earlier this month after investigators published details of their investigations into the case.
Although Yermack has not been accused of wrongdoing, several senior lawmakers in his party said he must take responsibility for the disaster to regain public trust. Some claimed that if Zelensky did not impeach Zelensky, the party could split. Threatening the president’s parliamentary majority.
Yermak met Zelenskyy more than 15 years ago, when he was a film producer and intellectual property lawyer, and the current president was a famous Ukrainian comedian and actor.
He oversaw foreign affairs as part of Zelensky’s first presidential team He was promoted to the position of Chief of Staff in February 2020. Until today, he was considered the second most influential man in the country. After the president.
Yermak has accompanied Zelensky on all his foreign trips since the Russian invasion in February 2022, and the president’s trust in him has made Yermak’s authority seem almost untouchable. At the national level, authorities described Yermak as the president’s guardian, and it is widely believed that he handpicked all senior government officials.
Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, nearly four years ago, He led several rounds of negotiations with the Americans in Washington, And also last weekend in Geneva.
By political analyst Volodymyr Fesenko. This situation “weakens” Ukraine’s position in negotiations regarding the American plan. Already affected by the Russian advance on the front. In his opinion, Russia “without a doubt” will exploit this scandal in order to… Pressure on the United States to conclude an agreement to end the war directly with Moscow, Leave Ukraine aside.
Reuters, Agence France-Presse, and Associated Press