The father of the head of the Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, Borys Yermak, has repeatedly visited Russia since the start of the war in Donbas. This became known from an investigation by journalists of the Schemes programme.
Details of the investigation
According to the journalists of «Skhemy», the father of the former head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak - Boris Yermak - travelled to the Russian Federation after 2014. This is stated in an article published on the Radio Liberty.
Investigators found that Borys Yermak repeatedly crossed the border with Russia in different years after the start of Russian aggression. The investigation notes that these trips took place after the annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of hostilities in eastern Ukraine. The journalists confirmed these facts by analysing data on border crossings.
Reaction of the parties
The Skhemy article reports that a team of journalists asked for a comment from Andriy Yermak. At the same time, there was no official public reaction from the head of the Presidential Office or his family at the time of publication of the investigation.
It is noted that such trips by relatives of high-ranking officials may raise questions about security and possible risks to the civil service. The journalists emphasise that the interest in this topic is due to the high level of trust in officials who make decisions at the highest level.
The context of the investigation
Since the outbreak of the war in Donbas and the annexation of Crimea by Russia, Ukrainian society has been extremely sensitive to contacts with Russia, especially by people connected to the government. Visits to Russia, even by relatives of top officials, often become the subject of close attention from both the media and the public.
It is not the first time that Skhemy journalists have investigated the issue of potential risks due to personal or family ties between Ukrainian officials and Russia. Such investigations help the society to get more information about possible factors of influence on public officials.
Why it matters
The publication of information about Andriy Yermak's father's trips to Russia highlights the importance of transparency in the activities of top officials and their families. In the context of the war with Russia, the issue of trust in the leaders of the state and their entourage is of particular importance. Such investigations facilitate public control over the actions of officials and help prevent possible conflicts of interest.
