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Zelensky’s top aide resigns after anti-corruption raid. Ukrainian president says looking for replacement

Zelensky’s top aide resigns after anti-corruption raid. Ukrainian president says looking for replacement

Andriy Yermak Photograph: (AFP)

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Friday (Nov 28) that his top aide, Andriy Yermak, has resigned after investigators raided the powerful chief of staff's house as part of a sweeping corruption probe.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Friday (Nov 28) that his top aide, Andriy Yermak, has resigned after investigators raided the powerful chief of staff's house as part of a sweeping corruption probe. "The Office of the President of Ukraine will be reorganised. The head of the office, Andriy Yermak, has submitted his resignation," Zelensky said in a video address, adding he would hold consultations with a possible replacement on Saturday.

Yermak's removal deals a serious blow to Zelensky, who is facing a mounting Russian offensive in the east just as the United States, a crucial ally, tabled a surprise plan to end the war that heavily favoured Moscow.

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The resignation came just a week after Zelensky named Yermak, 54, as Ukraine's top negotiator in high-stakes talks to refine the US plan. That was a vote of confidence amid growing pressure from opposition figures to remove his divisive chief of staff.

This comes after investigators said that they had discovered a $100-million kickback scheme in the strategic energy sector earlier this month, sparking widespread public outrage. The revelation came at a time when Russia was blasting the country’s power grid, forcing blackouts across the country as Ukrainians faced heating outages in winter.

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In a statement, the National Anti-Corruption Agency (NABU) said that the agency, along with the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP), was “conducting investigative actions (searches) at the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine” without specifying the reason behind the searches. It added, “The investigative actions are sanctioned and are being carried out as part of an investigation.”

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Gulshan Parveen

Passionate about international politics and social issues, Gulshan analyses key global events, from geopolitical conflicts and US politics to international diplomacy and social mov...Read More

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