Yermak's defense claims lack of evidence, prepares appeal, and raises funds for bail
Kyiv • UNN
The court has ordered the arrest of Andriy Yermak with a bail option of 140 million UAH in a money laundering case. The lawyer is preparing an appeal and collecting funds from the client's friends.
The lawyer for the former head of the Office of the President, Andriy Yermak, whom the court sent into custody on May 14 with the possibility of posting bail in the amount of 140 million UAH, said that he did not expect such a decision, considers it unfair, and will file an appeal. This is reported by UNN.
"I understood that they were unlikely to cancel the notice of suspicion or recognize it as unfounded, but I thought the court would still be more balanced and decide on bail rather than arrest,"
On the court's decision
During a conversation with media representatives, the lawyer immediately emphasized: he has a negative attitude toward the court's decision to arrest his client.
"You have to understand what the court actually did. The court recognized that Andriy Yermak in 2022 helped Mindich (Timur Mindich, a figure in a high-profile corruption case — ed.). That he, being the head of the Office of the President, helped Mindich launder some money on some construction project. I think this is simply nonsense,"
The lawyer added: he did not see a single piece of evidence from the SAPO (Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office) that would indicate that his client Andriy Yermak actually took money or passed it to someone.
"There is no crime he is accused of regarding him receiving this money illegally. From my point of view, this decision is not legal, and in general, I see this as a systemic problem of our state—that our courts are guided not by evidence or competition in the process, but by their political or personal motivations,"
On the bail
Fomin clarified: he will go directly from the courtroom to Andriy Yermak's acquaintances and friends to resolve the bail issue. His client was given one week for this.
"I'm going now. He (Andriy Yermak — ed.) still has many friends; I will reach out. We already reached out to people in advance, understanding that such an option was likely. Mostly to colleagues,"
On the appeal
Yermak's lawyer also emphasized that he will definitely file an appeal.
On paid pre-trial detention cells
Ihor Fomin, speaking with journalists, said that he had already handed over items to Andriy Yermak that might be needed in the pre-trial detention center (SIZO). However, he did not answer whether his client would use the paid cells with increased comfort available at the Lukyanivska SIZO and shifted the conversation to another topic.
As a reminder
The former head of the Office of the President, Andriy Yermak, was taken into custody. The court chose a preventive measure in the form of detention in a SIZO for two months, while simultaneously setting the possibility of posting bail in the amount of 140 million UAH.
In parallel, NABU and SAPO notified Yermak of suspicion in a case regarding the possible legalization of 460 million UAH through the construction of luxury real estate in the "Dynasty" cottage community near Kyiv.
According to the investigation, this concerns residences in Kozyn with an area of about 1,000 square meters each. The estimated cost of building one such house is valued at approximately 2 million dollars.
Commenting on the possibility of posting bail, Yermak stated that he does not have such funds, and his lawyer will work with friends and acquaintances.