MOSCOW, May 18. /TASS/. Andrey Yermak, the former head of the Ukrainian presidential office, was released on bail from the pre-trial detention center where he had spent four nights, Ukraine’s Channel 5 reported.

Published photographs show Yermak leaving the detention center. He reluctantly answered journalists’ questions and confirmed that he had been held in a paid cell.

Then, black-clad security guards began restraining the journalists and preventing the media from approaching the car. Yermak got into a Mercedes-Benz and drove away. Earlier on Monday, the High Anti-Corruption Court reported that the court-ordered bail of 140 million hryvnia (about $3.1 million) for Yermak bail had been paid in full. In turn, Ukrainian journalist Mikhail Tkach reported that over 154 million hryvnia ($3.5 million) was raised for Yermak’s bail, which is more than the required amount.

On May 11, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) charged Yermak with legalizing property obtained by criminal means by an organized group or on a large scale. He is accused of involvement in the laundering of 460 million hryvnia ($10.5 million) during the construction of luxury housing near Kiev. On May 14, the court imposed a pre-trial detention measure of 60 days, with the alternative of posting bail in the amount of 140 million hryvnia (about $3.1 million). It was expected that the money for the former head of the presidential office would be raised immediately, allowing him to avoid pre-trial detention. As Yermak noted in court, he has enough friends and acquaintances to help him. However, the fundraising effort stalled, and, according to Ukrainian media, Zelensky’s office was forced to mobilize all available resources. Nevertheless, the bail was not posted before the weekend, resulting in Yermak spending four nights in pre-trial detention.