Birthday of the Head of the Presidential Office: Reactions from Zelensky's Spokesman, the Office of the President and Yermak Himself to UP Investigation

Yermak did not say where he was on his birthday.

President Volodymyr Zelensky and staff of the Presidential Office celebrated the birthday of Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak at a state dacha, using State Emergency Service helicopters to transport people to the residence in the Carpathians. Ukrainska Pravda found this out in its investigation. Here are the reactions of the participants in the celebration.

What Zelensky's spokesman said

Presidential press secretary Serhiy Nikiforov responded to the Ukrainska Pravda investigation into the celebration of Yermak's birthday and said that he does not know how Volodymyr Zelensky spent his free time. 

He noted that he does not know whether the head of state was in the Carpathians for Yermak's anniversary celebration. Nikiforov said he saw Zelensky on Friday, Sunday and Monday. 

However, the press secretary had difficulty answering what time Zelensky left work, and whether he was at his workplace until the end of the working day (the investigation says that Yermak and Zelensky left work at lunchtime). He reminded that disclosing such information "is a security issue." 

Serhiy Nikiforov said that he did not take part in the celebration of the anniversary of the head of the Presidential Office "neither in Kyiv, nor in the Carpathians, nowhere." He had difficulty answering when Zelensky arrived at work on Monday (the investigation says Zelensky and Yermak arrived at work around 5:00 p.m.). 

Reaction of the Presidential Office

The Presidential Office responded to the investigation and said the president uses the state residence and helicopters "in accordance with standard protocols." 

"Officially, we state that there was no four-day celebration with fireworks, concerts, models of Venetian architecture, extras playing guests and other attractions that can still be imagined for greater effect. The use of this residence over one or two days, as well as helicopters providing the president's transportation, took place in accordance with the standard protocols for moving the president and his staff and using the relevant facilities," the statement says. 

The Presidential Office said that on Friday the president worked at Bankova in Kyiv. In the evening he left for the residence in Huta. On Sunday Zelensky was in Kyiv at events marking the anniversary of the start of the Revolution of Dignity. On Monday he was at his workplace. 

The press service noted that outsiders did not travel on State Emergency Service helicopters. However, the statement did not clarify where the president was on Saturday, November 20. 

Among the government officials mentioned in the investigation, the office confirmed the presence of Minister for Community and Territorial Development Oleksiy Chernyshov. The minister allegedly arrived at the Carpathian residence from Rivne by car. 

The president's stay together with Presidential Office staff is explained by preparations for a special forum on Ukraine's Diplomatic Service Staff Day in December. In its statement, the Presidential Office stressed that UP investigation author Mykhailo Tkach sent an inquiry with questions on November 24, the day of publication, and therefore, allegedly, the press service could not respond to the facts set out in the investigation due to lack of time. 

At 1:30 p.m. the editorial office sent an information request, while the investigation was published at 8:00 p.m. 

What Yermak said

Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak denies certain facts set out in the UP investigation, but does not clarify where he was on his birthday on Sunday, November 21. 

Andriy Yermak
head of the Presidential Office

As I have said before, I don't like my birthday, and I celebrated this day loudly only once in my life. It was my 35th birthday. I did not particularly mark this anniversary, I only stopped by my parents on Monday. My mother scolded me for rarely visiting them and for looking tired. On Tuesday I set aside one hour to receive congratulations from colleagues at the Presidential Office. I hope that next time I still receive a request earlier. Or even talk to the journalist in person and have the opportunity to tell my version. I have always respected Ukrainska Pravda for its quality materials and strict adherence to journalistic standards. 

He did not say where he spent his birthday. Yermak also concealed whether he visited the state residence together with the president. 

The head of the Presidential Office repeated the theses set out in the official reaction of the Presidential Office, in particular, that the president traveled to the state residence on Friday evening, and that State Emergency Service helicopters did not carry outsiders. 

Yermak repeated the claim that a special forum for Ukraine's Diplomatic Service Staff Day in December is being prepared at the state residence. As part of preparations for the forum, the president and Presidential Office staff allegedly visited the residence together.