ALBAWABA - On Friday, Ukraine's anti-corruption officials searched the home of Andriy Yermak, who is the powerful chief of staff to President Volodymyr Zelensky and Kyiv's main negotiator in talks to end the war with Russia. The investigation is connected to a growing corruption scandal in the energy sector of the country, which makes people worry about the stability of Ukraine's political leadership.
Yermak said that his home had been searched and that he was fully cooperating with the police. He said on Telegram that investigators from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office were allowed to go into his apartment. He also said that his lawyers were there to help.
The raid happened weeks after Ukrainian anti-corruption agencies started a big investigation into a supposed scheme to bribe and steal $100 million from the state nuclear energy company. It is thought that the plan involves former high-ranking officials and a former business partner of Zelensky's. Even though Yermak wasn't originally named as a suspect, political pressure from opposition lawmakers and even some members of Zelensky's party has made calls for his removal stronger.
A Problem in the President's Inner Circle
The timing of the raid is very important. Yermak is in charge of Ukraine's negotiating team at a time when Washington has put forward a new peace proposal that some officials say meets a number of Russian demands. His legal problems could make things harder for Kyiv in those talks and make divisions within the country worse.
Analysts say that the investigation could make the gap between Zelensky and his opponents even bigger, which would be bad for Ukraine because international partners are urging the country to make concessions to get a cease-fire.
EU Gives the Green Light
The European Commission was happy with the news. Spokesperson Paola Pino said that the search showed that Ukraine's anti-corruption institutions "are working as they should." Brussels has long said that Ukraine can only join the EU if it makes progress in fighting corruption and improving governance.
The Worst Scandal in Ukraine Under Zelensky
People think that the current scandal, which came to light earlier this month, is the worst case of corruption during Zelensky's presidency. It has already caused two ministers to lose their jobs and shaken up the political scene in Kyiv.
According to investigators, the alleged scheme let people close to high-ranking officials steal tens of millions of dollars from the energy sector. The government has promised to go after this claim with all its might.
