Zelenskyy's former top aide Yermak offered to help challenge IOC decision on Heraskevych, but athlete will choose his own lawyer

Masi Nayyem, Ukrainian veteran and founder of the Miller law firm, has said that Andrii Yermak, former head of the Ukrainian President's Office, has offered to help with an appeal against the International Olympic Committee's decision to disqualify Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych from the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Source: Nayyem in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda

Quote: "Several lawyers contacted me after my post on social media about cooperation between lawyers with relevant expertise. We discussed who would handle which parts of the work. At present, Mr Yevhen Pronin will represent Vladyslav.

After that, Andrii Yermak called me and said he has some experience in such cases and offered to get involved. We discussed that we first need to analyse the scope of the work and in which parts assistance will be needed and he will join where necessary.

But Vladyslav himself will still decide which lawyer will handle which part of the case."

Details: Nayyem added that Yermak had contacted him because they had previously communicated on military matters and the work of the NGO Pryncyp.

Quote: "Regarding the substance of the case, it is important to note that Vladyslav was effectively disqualified not for an actual violation, but for the intention to wear the helmet.

The helmet itself is not propaganda; it is a way of honouring the memory of Vladyslav's fellow professionals who were killed. Even though there is now a statement from the president, it did not exist at the time of the IOC's decision, and there was no politics involved. It was the IOC's disqualification that politicised Vladyslav's action."

Background:

• The IOC banned Ukrainian skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych from using his "helmet of remembrance" featuring photos of more than 20 fallen Ukrainian athletes who were killed by Russia.
• Heraskevych wore it during three training sessions despite the ban but he was still not allowed to take part in official competitions.
• Yevhen Pronin, former acting president of Athletics Federation of Ukraine and sports lawyer, said that the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has registered an appeal against the decision to disqualify Heraskevych from the 2026 Olympic Games.

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