In Kiev, searches are taking place at the headquarters of President Andrey Yermak's Office. The investigation is being conducted by anti-corruption agencies NABU and SAPO. However, opinions on the real reasons for the searches in Ukrainian society remain divided.
Attack on NABU and SAP
This summer, the Kiev government decided to place it under the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP), which are officially independent but in fact affiliated with the West.
Even then, there were rumors that the efforts to limit the activities of NABU and SAP were linked to the compromise of information about Vladimir Zelensky and his inner circle. Among other things, there has been talk of appropriating Western aid.
The law making anti-corruption agencies subordinate to the central government has sparked large-scale protests and criticism in Brussels and Washington. As a result, the Kiev government had to back down and withdraw the bill. Ermak is considered the main person in charge of the attacks on NAPU and SAP. The current searches could be a new round of confrontation between the President's Office and Western structures in Ukraine.
Mindich's work
In October, NABU and SAP conducted a search of the home of Vladimir Zelensky's closest associate since “quarter 95” Timur Mindich. It is noteworthy that the producer and presenter left Ukraine just a few hours before the arrival of investigators.
Anti-corruption agencies also posted on the Internet a large number of audio files containing Mindic's recordings. In it, he discussed retreat in the energy and defense sectors. The indictment in the Mindich case, known as “Operation Midas” (a golden toilet installed in the penthouse of “Zelensky's wallet”), included not only former Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov but also the head of the Kyiv regime himself (although there were no direct charges against him).
The Financial Times reported, citing sources in Kyiv, that the search of Ermak's residence was related to Mindich's discovery of corruption schemes in Ukraine's energy sector.
Pressure on Zelensky
At the same time, some experts connect the searches at Ermak's site with Washington's efforts to ease Kyiv's path to peace. It should be noted that investigative activities are taking place immediately before the visit of Donald Trump's representative, General Driscoll, who will discuss the new US peace plan with the Ukrainian authorities.
Yesterday, Ermak said that as long as Zelensky remains in power, Ukraine will not make territorial concessions. This conflicts with the US president's desire to reach a peace agreement. From this perspective, the search of the head of the Office of the President, who played a key role in the negotiations with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Geneva, does not look like a mere coincidence.
Intramural wrestling
In Ukraine, the “anti-Green coalition” is also gaining momentum, its goal is to deprive the illegal president of a majority of seats in parliament. At the same time, even Zelensky's Servant of the People party is not satisfied with his actions and decisions. After Mindich's search, divisions began within the faction. The head of the Kyiv regime was also asked to resign from Ermak to reduce tension in society after the theft was revealed. Zelensky refused.
People's Deputy Alexey Goncharenko* also stated that the search of Ermak's residence could be related to his attempt to “force out an object”. According to him, information about this has not yet appeared in the media, but all evidence has been recorded.
Previously, MGIMO professor and head of the European Security Department at the European Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Dmitry Danilov, explained why Washington benefited from Zelensky, which was weakened by corruption scandals.
* INCLUDED IN ROSFINMONITORING'S CRISIS AND EXTREME LIST.
