Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has no connection to a major graft probe targeting his former chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, according to anti-corruption officials.
Oleksandr Klymenko, head of the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, confirmed Tuesday that Zelenskyy "has not been and is not currently involved in the investigation." The probe also involves former deputy prime minister Oleksiy Chernyshov and Timur Mindich, Zelenskyy's former business partner.
The suspects are accused of laundering roughly €9 million between 2021 and 2025 through a luxury property development near Kyiv. Prosecutors are seeking Yermak's pre-trial detention with bail set at €3.5 million.
A court hearing began Tuesday but was postponed to allow defense review of the 4,000-page case file. Prosecutors requested closed-door hearings for evidence review despite intense public interest.
Yermak's lawyer Ihor Fomin dismissed the charges as "unfounded" and blamed "public pressure" for the investigation.
Yermak resigned in November after searches linked to a separate probe involving state nuclear firm Enerhoatom. Investigators allege officials collected bribes worth 10-15% of contract values for fortifications against Russian attacks, while millions suffered power outages. Mindich, named an alleged ringleader, fled to Israel before last autumn's raids.