Ukraine's Greasy Clowns
Yermak brothers are in a lot of trouble
(Head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak)
I overslept this morning and only have time to post this slightly redacted English-language translation of Viktor Nebozhenko’s Facebook post about ultra-competitive Ukraine-style politics. Enjoy!
The chiefs of staff of Ukraine’s presidents since 1999 (Medvedchuk, Tabachnyk, Lovochkin, et al) all had brothers and sisters, but they tried not to involve them in their corrupt activities.
There was no reason for Andriy Yermak, recently appointed Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff, to buy an expensive Mercedes immediately after meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s representative in Minsk. Out of decency, at least, he should have waited several months.
In ultra-competitive Ukraine-style politics, the country’s new masters of the universe, including the political hucksters who do business in Courshevel, regard Yermak as a key policy maker, a powerful person with Zelensky’s ear who can solve problems the president does not understand.
The conflict with Member of Parliament (Servant of the People faction) Geo Leros, who on Sunday posted video clips to Facebook showing Yermak’s brother Denys selling government jobs, is instructive. Subsequent attempts to smear Leros, presenting him as either Jewish or Armenian, might backfire. Recall omnipotent Interior Minister Arsen Avakov and Ukraine’s Armenian diaspora or Ihor Kolomoisky’s jewishness. Neither will appreciate playing the ethnicity card for what should be obvious reasons.
Ukraine’s law-enforcement agencies need to interrogate Andriy and Denys Yermak often and thoroughly about selling government posts.
The investigation of the successful siblings will show why Zelensky is regularly unlucky when choosing prime ministers, ministers, members of parliament, army generals, governors, et cetera.
Turning the state’s human resources policy into a market of corrupt services and vacancies for wealthy buyers does not attract foreign investments.