Ukraine’s anti-corruption authorities carried out searches at the residence of Andrei Yermak, chief of staff of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, this Friday, November 28, as part of an investigation involving the state company Energoatom, responsible for nuclear energy in the country.
The information was confirmed by the National Anti-Corruption Agency of Ukraine and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office. In a joint statement, cited by Reuters, the two entities explained that the operations were authorized and are part of an ongoing process.
Yermak acknowledged, through the social network Telegram, that searches were taking place at his home and assured that he was cooperating..
The leader is one of the figures closest to Zelensky and has played a central role in diplomatic negotiations in search of a peace agreement to stop the war provoked by Russia since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
At the beginning of the month, the same Ukrainian state agencies revealed an extensive investigation into an alleged bribery scheme worth around $100 million within the energy company Energoatom. The case involves former senior officials and a former associate of Zelensky, increasing political pressure on the government whose legitimacy is questioned by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Although Yermak has not been formally identified as a suspect, opposition voices and some deputies from the ruling party have called for his departure, remember Reuters.
For now, the Ukrainian Presidency remains silent about Yermak’s future and is limited to ensuring that institutions have complete freedom to investigate.