Yermak remains in pretrial detention: the 140 million hryvnia bail could not be posted
15 May 22:40
Andriy Yermak, the former head of the Office of the President, remains in pretrial detention following a ruling by the High Anti-Corruption Court to keep him in custody with an alternative bail set at 140 million hryvnias. Yermak’s lawyer, Ihor Fomin, told this to journalists from “Suspilne,” according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
What Yermak’s lawyer said
Andriy Yermak’s lawyer, Ihor Fomin, stated that as of the evening of May 15, the funds for the 140 million hryvnia bail had allegedly already been raised.
At the same time, he said that it has not yet been possible to transfer the full amount to the High Anti-Corruption Court due to the closure of banking institutions.
As a result, Yermak remains in pretrial detention for the second day following the imposition of a preventive measure.
What preventive measure did the court choose?
The High Anti-Corruption Court had previously imposed a preventive measure on the former head of the Office of the President in the form of detention with the possibility of posting bail in the amount of 140 million hryvnias. The prosecution had requested a higher amount—180 million hryvnias—but the court set a lower bail.
After the hearing, Yermak told reporters that he does not have such funds and is hoping for help from acquaintances and friends.
What case is Yermak involved in?
Yermak is suspected in a case involving the alleged laundering of 460 million hryvnias during the construction of the “Dynasty” housing cooperative in Kozin. This is a high-profile anti-corruption case in which other individuals are also implicated.
At the same time, a notice of suspicion and the imposition of a preventive measure do not imply a finding of guilt. The final legal assessment must be made by the court.
What obligations will Yermak have if bail is posted?
If the bail of 140 million hryvnias is paid in full, Yermak will be able to be released from custody, but he will be subject to a number of procedural obligations.
If bail is posted, Yermak is required to appear as summoned by the investigator, detective, prosecutor, or court, and to report any change of residence. He must also not leave Kyiv without permission and must surrender his passports for travel abroad and diplomatic documents.
He must refrain from communicating with suspects in the criminal proceedings, namely Chernyshov, Mindich, Lysenko, Opalchuk, Siranchuk, Medvedeva, as well as witnesses Martynkevich, Yatsyk, Ogorodnik, Kvelenkova, Nikolaenko, Nikolaenko, Novikova, Chernyshova, Abramov, Anikievich, Ratkovska, Naumenko, and Bobrovska. Yermak will also be required to wear an electronic monitoring device.
What is known about the bail
It was reported earlier that a portion of the bail for Yermak had already begun to be paid. According to media reports, a portion of the funds was deposited on May 14, but the full amount of 140 million hryvnias had not yet been received by the High Anti-Corruption Court at that time.
On May 15, the lawyer stated that the required amount had allegedly already been collected, but due to the technical impossibility of a bank transfer after the end of the business day, Yermak remains in pretrial detention for now.
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What case is Yermak involved in?
NABU and the SAP announced the exposure of a group that may have been involved in the laundering of approximately 460 million UAH through luxury construction projects near Kyiv. As part of this investigation, the former head of the Office of the President of Ukraine was reportedly served with a notice of suspicion.
According to investigators, the individuals involved in the project allegedly planned to build several residences for personal use.
To conceal the origin of the funds, investigators say, they may have used the “Sunny Beach” cooperative and cash of illegal origin.
What Yermak said earlier
Earlier, Andriy Yermak stated that he considers the notice of suspicion to be unfounded. He also said that he would defend his rights, name, and reputation strictly within the framework of Ukrainian law.
During the court proceedings, Yermak told reporters that he did not have the 180 million hryvnias required for the bail initially requested by the prosecution.
Following the High Anti-Corruption Court’s decision, in a comment to the press broadcast by Suspilne, Yermak said he did not have 140 million for bail. But he has many friends and acquaintances who could likely help.
“You’ve heard the decision. I stand by my position and deny all charges. There is a court decision; I will continue to fight, and I am staying in Ukraine. I think we’ll talk at the earliest opportunity; the process will continue. I have nothing to hide,” he said.
Yermak added that his legal team will most likely file an appeal. He believes the trial against him is being conducted under pressure.
NABU Raids and the “Midas” Case: What Is Known
On November 28, 2025, detectives from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and prosecutors from the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) conducted searches at the office of Andriy Yermak, then head of the Office of the President.
On the same day, Yermak submitted his resignation, which was signed by the president.
The searches may have been related to the investigation of the so-called “Midas case,” which concerns possible corruption schemes in the energy sector. As part of this investigation, investigators are examining the activities of a number of former high-ranking officials and businessmen, including Timur Mindich, co-owner of the “Kvartal-95” studio.
However, the president emphasized that this particular investigation was not the reason for the personnel decision.
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