© Getty Images Nevertheless, it is presently unknown the number of deputies within the faction who are in favor of this declaration.
People’s Deputy Mykyta Poturaiev shared a statement on his profile on behalf of “Servant of the People” representatives pertaining to the investigation by NABU and SAPO within the ambit of Operation Midas. However, the aforementioned statement omits the identities and surnames of those who endorsed it.
He pointed out that members of the “SN” faction articulate the subsequent political stance:
- all individuals implicated in the corruption scheme at Energoatom under the control of Timur Mindich should be set free forthwith, and the most stringent punitive measures should be applied to all involved parties wielding authority;
- all governmental bodies should provide assistance to the SAPO and NABU in finalizing the investigation into this instance and transmitting the evidence to the judiciary;
- an appeal to commence immediate discussions between pro-Ukrainian factions and groups in the Verkhovna Rada concerning the establishment of a coalition for national resilience;
- a government of national stability — devoid of party-based allocations and clandestine understandings. Poturaiev, acting for other faction deputies, mentions that following the creation of this coalition, deliberations should be initiated among all factions and groups regarding a government of national stability, to be structured without party quotas and “insiders”, and encompassing “professionals with an impeccable standing and demonstrated managerial skill”;
- reinforcing confidence in the presidential office and constitutional equilibrium — Poturaiev indicates that the power triad (president, parliament, government) should revert to the parameters of the Constitution of Ukraine and be predicated on the tenets of a parliamentary-presidential republic;
- The operations of the President's Office should be systematically organized, transparent, and shielded from any unauthorized influence by individuals connected to corruption.
Concurrently, MP Mariana Bezugla asserts that the pronouncements by faction representatives are the outcome of negotiations with the deputies of the head of the OP, Andriy Yermak, who intends to “erase his involvement and retain his position” and “is collaborating with the Verkhovna Rada.”
During the session held today, the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk, affirmed that the “SN” faction encompasses 229 deputies, confirming that it still represents a single-party majority.
According to “UP”, the majority of figures within the ruling team are advising the president to relieve the head of his office, Andriy Yermak, of his duties. Furthermore, not every individual within “Servant of the People” is content with Yermak. The report highlighted that a division has arisen amongst the “Servants” threatening to withdraw from the parliamentary faction if Yermak is not ousted.
Previously, MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak conveyed that Yermak is referenced in the inquiry into the “Midas” matter under the alias “Ali Baba” . He purportedly participates in meetings and issues directives on methods to exert coercion on the NABU and SAPO . Zheleznyak further added that Yermak and Timur Mindych had a prior acquaintance with Zelensky even before his presidential election. Moreover, it is alleged that Mindych advocated for Zelensky to designate Yermak as the head of his office in 2020, superseding Andriy Bohdan. Supposedly, this maneuver was in the interest of Kolomoisky.
Why is the main subject in the investigation — the president's longstanding associate Timur Mindich — engaging with the Zuckerman brothers in Tel Aviv, rather than occupying a position in the Supreme Court of Ukraine? Was there a disclosure of details regarding the impending searches? What function could the deputy head of the SAPO, Andriy Sinyuk, have potentially played in this? What further avenues of power monetization did Mindich impact? What — and who — can thwart the advancement of the investigation? And critically: what course of action should the president undertake, and what response should the nation adopt? The answers reside within the article “Operation Midas. The path of absolute power is as long as a dollar” by the editor of the domestic policy department, Inna Vedernikova.
