Ermolaev calls on Monaco, France and Ukraine to protect his family
By Zak Jackson, MonacoViews Editorial
Ukrainian businessman Vadim Ermolaev has appealed directly to the Monegasque authorities, France and Ukraine to guarantee the safety of his family after what he describes as a failed attack against him.
Vadim Ermolaev, the Ukrainian financier resident in Monaco, has written an open letter to authorities in the Principality, France and Ukraine urging them to act on what he says is a continuing threat to his life and the lives of those close to him. The letter, addressed publicly to Monaco-Matin, states plainly that "the attack did not achieve its objective" - suggesting a recent attempt on his safety - and insists the danger has not passed.
Ermolaev has been a prominent and at times controversial figure in Monaco's Ukrainian exile community. His appeal to three separate governments simultaneously reflects the complexity of his situation: a Monaco resident whose safety concerns span national jurisdictions and, implicitly, the broader geopolitical pressures bearing on wealthy Ukrainians abroad since the start of the war with Russia.
The Principality's Direction de la Sûreté Publique has not issued a public response to the letter. It is not yet clear what specific incident Ermolaev is referring to, nor what formal security requests, if any, have been lodged with Monegasque authorities. Residents and property owners in Monaco with ties to the conflict will be watching closely to see how the government responds to a case that places the Principality's neutrality and its duty of care to residents in direct tension.