On the morning of November 28, employees of Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office began a search at the residence of Andrey Yermak, the head of the country's Presidential Administration. It is said that the search is specifically related to suspicions of corruption in the energy sector.
Medianews.az reports that Andrey Yermak is considered one of the influential figures in Ukraine's political management system.
As the person who leads the Presidential Administration (Presidential Office) as a member of the closest circle of the head of state Volodymyr Zelensky, Andrey Yermak is one of the main figures determining Kyiv's diplomatic line.
His political influence has especially increased since 2022 – after the outbreak of the large-scale war with Russia. Currently, Yermak is considered one of the real power holders affecting Ukraine's political course both in domestic governance and on the international stage.
Andrey Yermak was born in Kyiv in 1971. He received higher education at the Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University's Institute of International Relations and specialized in international law there.
Between 1991 and 1995, he worked as a lawyer at "Proksen," known as Ukraine's first licensed law firm. During those years when the post-Soviet space saw an influx of foreign investors, Yermak advised many large international companies.
In 1997, he established an international company specializing in copyright and commercial law. This organization later turned into one of the well-known legal platforms in Ukraine's business community.
In 2005, through associated structures, Yermak founded the Ukraine-Georgia Foreign Investment Cooperation Association. This project was one of the initiatives at that time aimed at expanding investment cooperation among regional countries.
In the second half of the 2010s, Yermak expanded his activities in the legal field and also entered the film industry. He created a company called "Garnet International Media Group" and produced five films.
Since 2017, Yermak has been a member of both the Ukrainian Cinematography Academy and the European Film Academy.
Andrey Yermak openly entered politics in 2019 by joining Volodymyr Zelensky's team during the presidential elections. After Zelensky was elected president, Yermak was appointed as his aide and entrusted with foreign policy matters.
This appointment marked a turning point for Yermak. He quickly became one of the most trusted figures in the new administration.
Since February 2021, Yermak has been the head of the Presidential Administration (Presidential Office). This position grants him broad authority in political coordination, state governance, and international diplomacy.
The role of the Presidential Office in Ukraine's political system is strong. As head of this structure, Yermak ensures the head of state's agenda and administrative activities, coordinates with the government, parliament, and security agencies; plays a leading role in negotiations with Western countries, and in strategic communication, security, and humanitarian issues.
Since Russia launched a total war against Ukraine in February 2022, Andrey Yermak has also led the coordination headquarters on prisoner exchanges and humanitarian issues, participated in negotiations regarding Western weapons and financial support for Ukraine; plays a significant role in talks with Russia.
In 2024, the US magazine "Time" included Yermak in the list of "The 100 Most Influential People in the World."
Critics accuse Yermak of concentrating excessive powers within the Presidential Office, preparing decisions behind closed doors, a lack of transparency in some personnel and political appointments, and taking an overly prominent role in "secret negotiations."
His supporters, on the other hand, believe that Yermak is a figure capable of making agile decisions during wartime, acts masterfully on the diplomatic front, and plays an important role in maintaining political stability in Ukraine.
In Ukrainian political circles, Andrey Yermak is often also called the "green cardinal." Although this expression recalls the classic concept of the "gray cardinal," in Yermak's case, it carries a somewhat different meaning.
The "green" epithet is linked to his choice of military-style clothing during the war period. Recently, Yermak appears in public wearing dark green shirts or jackets resembling military attire.
The "cardinal" epithet refers to his ability to direct political mechanisms and his real influence within the government.
Toğrul Ali,
Medianews.az
