The High Anti-Corruption Court has expanded the area within which Andriy Yermak, the former head of the President’s Office, may move without special authorisation, his defence team announced on 10 August. His lawyers attribute this to his participation in the National Bar Association of Ukraine’s «Lawyer+» project, which provides legal assistance to military personnel at their units’ deployment locations. The requirement to wear an electronic monitoring device remains in place.
Briefly about the main points
- The defence team has announced that Andriy Yermak has been granted a wider area in which to move about.
- The change is linked to trips undertaken as part of the «Lawyer+» initiative.
- The geographical limits of permitted movement have not been specified publicly.
- The electronic tagging device fitted to Yermak remains in operation.
- The defence plans to continue challenging the requirement to wear an electronic tag.
What changes did the court rule on?
According to the lawyers, the court agreed to extend the area where Yermak may remain there without having to obtain separate procedural authorisation each time. The defence’s statement does not specify the geographical boundaries of the new regime.
This refers to the relaxation of territorial restrictions, not the complete abolition of movement rules or other obligations imposed on him.
How «Advocate+» works and what support it provides to military personnel
«Lawyer+» is a pilot project run by the National Bar Association of Ukraine to provide primary legal aid to military personnel at brigade level. The project combines remote consultations with in-person support provided by lawyers within military units.
The initiative has been launched on a trial basis for three units of the Armed Forces and the National Guard. Each unit is to be assigned a lawyer to act as the first point of contact for legal matters.
Service personnel may seek assistance with drafting reports, applications and complaints; undergoing medical examinations by the military medical board; transfers between units; financial support; and matters relating to mobilisation, social welfare and family issues. Yermak chairs the NAU committee on the protection of victims of armed aggression, compensation mechanisms and the legal framework for recovery within the context of European integration, which is involved in the implementation of the project.
Electronic monitoring and the preventive measure remain in force
The defence stated that it does not agree with the requirement to wear an electronic monitoring device and will seek its revocation in accordance with the procedure laid down by law. On 29 June, an investigating judge at the High Anti-Corruption Court had already rejected such a motion, finding no grounds for revising this requirement.
Precautionary measure In May 2026, the court ruled that Yermak should be remanded in custody, with bail set at 140 million hryvnias. After paying the full amount, he was released from the remand centre, and the court imposed procedural obligations on him, including restrictions on his movements and electronic monitoring.
Therefore, according to the lawyers, the new ruling merely alters the territorial restrictions on movement. The requirement to wear the ankle bracelet has not automatically ceased.
