Detectives from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) have questioned Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), as a witness in a case involving an alleged “back office” run by businessman Timur Mindich, a former associate of President Volodymyr Zelensky.
According to the Ukrainska Pravda outlet, citing Umerov’s press service, he was summoned to NABU as a witness in criminal proceedings opened “on the fact of interference in the activities of a state figure.”
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“The conversation was constructive. Rustem Umerov answered all the investigation’s questions within the framework of procedural legislation,” the outlet reported.
The questioning took place on Tuesday, Nov. 25. No further details were disclosed.
Rumors had circulated in Ukrainian media that Mindich contacted Umerov during his tenure as defense minister and tried to persuade him to accept bulletproof vests that had failed quality control by the State Operator of the Rear Area.
Those rumors intensified on Nov. 17 amid reports that Umerov had stayed abroad to avoid a looming anti-corruption probe linked to Mindich.
Several outlets, including the Turkish-based Clash Report, claimed he had “refused to return to Ukraine,” allegedly telling Zelensky he would not return and that he had instead traveled to Turkey under the pretext of negotiating prisoner exchanges.
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The claims coincided with Umerov’s announcement that Ukraine is preparing a major swap involving 1,200 prisoners by year’s end.
Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) dismissed the allegations as a deliberate disinformation effort, saying they “do not correspond to reality.”
The CCD said Umerov was on a planned official trip to the US, was in constant contact with Kyiv’s leadership, and continued to oversee key security and humanitarian issues.
The agency urged the public and media “not to amplify unverified claims” that “mislead society and serve the interests of hostile information operations.”
Clash Report later revised its initial report, saying its sources now claim, “There is no truth to the claim that Rustem Umerov does not plan to return to Ukraine,” adding that “he will indeed return.”
Umerov said that attempts to tie his work to outside influence were unfounded. He confirmed meeting Mindich to discuss a contract for bulletproof vests but said the deal was terminated after the products failed to meet standards, and no deliveries were made.
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