The HACC Appeals Chamber considered appeals against the preventive measure ruling for former Presidential Office Head Andrii Yermak, filed by both the defense and the prosecution. Yermak was released from pre-trial detention on bail of UAH 140 million.

The Appeals Chamber left the investigating judge's ruling unchanged.

Defense position

The defense sought to have the investigating judge's pre-trial detention ruling annulled in full and a new ruling issued in its place. Counsel argued that the first-instance judge ignored their key arguments — that the suspicion is unfounded and that the case materials do not establish the suspect's guilt in any way. The defense also maintained that none of the procedural risks prescribed by the Criminal Procedure Code are present.

SAPO position

The prosecutor asked the Appeals Chamber to increase the bail to UAH 180 million, citing three grounds:

• the first-instance court failed to account for all existing risks — particularly the documented pressure on an expert that began immediately after forensic examinations of the properties in the case were commissioned;

• the current bail of UAH 140 million is insufficient to neutralize the risks in the proceedings; 

• and a risk remains of the suspect continuing or committing new criminal offences. The prosecutor considers the existing measure too lenient given the actual obstruction risks.