Ex-top presidential aide arrives at Kyiv court for high-stakes custody hearing VIDEO

Former Ukrainian Presidential Office chief Andriy Yermak appeared at the High Anti-Corruption Court on May 13 for the continuation of his pre-trial detention hearing, which started behind closed doors as both prosecutors and defence teams presented materials that may include classified information, according to Ukrainian media.

After the closed segment, the investigating judge of the High Anti-Corruption Court is expected to call a short technical recess, after which media representatives will be allowed into the courtroom.

On May 11, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) formally charged Yermak, stating they had uncovered an organised group involved in laundering 460 million hryvnias ($10.5 million) through high-end real estate development outside Kyiv, specifically the Dynasty cooperative in Kozyn.

According to investigators, the housing cooperative where Yermak’s residence is located was developed by firms associated with former Vice Prime Minister Oleksiy Chernyshov. Law enforcement agencies allege that the project was financed with funds laundered by an organised group led by businessman Timur Mindich, and that Yermak was also implicated in the scheme.

Yermak is suspected under Part 3 of Article 209 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code — money laundering committed by an organised group or on a particularly large scale.

He has denied owning a house in the Dynasty cooperative, stating that he has only "one apartment and a car." His lawyer has called the allegations "groundless."

The detention hearing began on May 12, when prosecutors requested that Yermak be placed in custody with bail set at 180 million hryvnias ($4.1 million). Later that evening, the judge adjourned proceedings until May 13 after the defence argued it had not been given sufficient time to review 16 volumes of case materials.

By Jeyhun Aghazada