Several phones and laptops seized during searches at residence of former head of President’s Office

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) have seized several phones and laptops during searches at the residence of Andrii Yermak, former head of the President's Office, sources in law enforcement told Ukrainska Pravda.

Source: journalist Mykhailo Tkach on the UP.Chat programme

Quote from Tkach: "They say several devices were seized – phones and laptops. And the contents of all of these are now being examined, as far as we understand."

Details: He added that NABU and SAPO officers arrived in the government quarter at around 06:00 on 28 November.

"At around 06:00, NABU and SAPO officers entered or tried to enter the government quarter – there were certain issues because they weren't being let in – but eventually they forced their way in and didn't wait. Dzerkalo Tyzhnia (Mirror of the Week) reported that searches took place in the President's Office, including at Yermak's workplace, and at a residence somewhere near the President's Administration. Our sources in law enforcement have not confirmed searches at the President's Office, but they have confirmed searches at Mr Yermak's residence," Tkach said.

He also noted that, according to his sources, the searches, which began at around 06:00, finished around midday.

"Everything wrapped up at about 14:00 and moved on to analysing these gadgets and devices," Tkach summarised.

Background:

• On 28 November, Ukrainska Pravda reported that officers from NABU and SAPO were conducting searches at Yermak's office in the government district. Ukrainska Pravda journalists managed to record around 10 employees from NABU and SAPO entering the government district.
• Yermak confirmed that the search was taking place at his home and said he was ready to assist the investigation. According to UP, he had not been served with a notice of suspicion as of the morning.
• Poland said that corruption investigations in Ukraine are "bad news" from the Polish point of view, as they do not make the current peace talks any easier.
• Later, Zelenskyy announced that he had accepted Yermak's resignation from the post of head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, and that the institution will now undergo a reboot. The president said he would hold consultations on Saturday with those who could take over as head of the Office.
• After that, Yermak announced that he was joining the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

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