Podcaster Tucker Carlson has claimed that the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) has evidence that Andriy Yermak has skimmed a large amount of US aid meant for Ukraine. In an X post dated November 24, Tucker Carlson accused Yermak of “personal corruption” and wrote: “For months, the Wall Street Journal has held a story detailing the personal corruption of Andrii Yermak, the second most powerful man in Ukraine. Yermak has skimmed hundreds of millions in American tax dollars meant for Ukraine aid. The Journal’s editors can prove that. But they’re not. Instead they’re protecting Yermak. Why?” He added: “Because Yermak is leading Ukraine’s efforts to scuttle the Trump peace plan for Eastern Europe. The owners of the Wall Street Journal don’t want peace with Russia. They want war. At the same time, the Journal’s editorial page has attacked the Trump administration for pushing a peace agreement. This is true corruption. Without informing its readers, the Murdoch family is using both sides of its newspaper to continue the war with Russia. That’s not the behavior of a news organization. It’s the hallmark of an intel agency.” Andriy Yermak is the chief of staff of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He has served in the position since February 2020. The 54-year-old politician is considered one of the most powerful people in the Ukraine government and is a member of the Headquarters of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Action Center director says Volodymyr Zelenskyy should let Andriy Yermak go In a statement given to the Kyiv Independent, the executive director of the Anti-Corruption Action Center in Ukraine, Daria Kaleniuk, advised President Zelenskyy to let his right hand man, Andriy Yermak go. “Andriy Yermak is so influential and is so deep in so many issues inside the country, that it is impossible for such a large-scale corruption scheme to operate without (his) deep knowledge and understanding. For the president to prove that he’s not part of the scheme and he’s not corrupt, he needs to get rid of all these corrupt inner circle friends. As simple as that. Including Mr. Yermak,” she said. Yermak is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Ukraine, holding power across various sectors. However, many of his decisions have been met with controversy, especially among allies who reportedly feel frustrated about his yielding power as Zelenskyy’s right-hand man. A senior European official reportedly told Kyiv Independent that they “do not have a choice” but to deal with Andriy Yermak, as he is “Zelenskyy’s man.” Another diplomat suggested that the official should not be sent to Washington again, focusing on Ukraine and the USA’s strained relationship. Moreover, the recent corruption scandal in Ukraine related to Timur Mindich has further raised eyebrows at Yermak. Mindich, the co-owner of Kvartal 95 studio, is a former business partner of Volodymyr Zelenskyy. According to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau, Mindich was allegedly leading a group that took bribes from contractors from state-owned energy companies. In exchange, their status had to be shown as suppliers, and their products were not blocked. With details of this alleged scandal coming to light, Andriy Yermak is also facing controversy, as he is the one leading most of Ukraine’s government operations. As the head of office of President Zelenskyy, Yermak appears to have been a part of the scandal as well. Meanwhile, some of Andriy Yermak’s associates have also faced corruption charges in the past. Three of his former deputies have faced such charges, including Andriy Smyrnov, who was charged with bribery and money laundering. Further, Kyrylo Tymoshenko and Rostyslav Shurma were investigated in corruption cases but did not face official charges. Further details on the ongoing political turmoil in Ukraine are awaited.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/us/podcasts/news-who-andriy-yermak-tucker-carlson-claims-wsj-evidence-head-volodymyr-zelenskyy-s-office-skimmed-hundreds-millions-us-aid
