Tsyvinsky to pass polygraph: final stage before appointment to BES
1 August 2025 13:54
The candidate for the post of director of the Bureau of Economic Security, Oleksandr Tsyvinsky, will undergo a polygraph. This was announced by Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports
“In the morning, I had a good conversation with Oleksandr Tsyvinsky, a candidate for the post of director of the Bureau of Economic Security. Thank you for your constructive approach,” Svyrydenko wrote.
According to her, the government has received the results of additional checks, and the competition commission has already made a decision. The next step will be a transparent final check of the candidate’s integrity.
“We are all interested in the BES becoming an effective institution and having real trust – the trust of business and the entire Ukrainian society,” the Prime Minister emphasized.
Svyrydenko also added that she had agreed with Tsyvinsky on a civilized and transparent way to pass a polygraph. According to her, this should finally remove any suspicions.
“We agreed with Oleksandr on how to remove all questions and doubts in a civilized way, and agreed with him to take a polygraph. This is guaranteed to eliminate any manipulation and allow us to move on.”
For his part, Tsyvinsky confirmed this information and noted that his conversation with the Prime Minister was constructive and to the point.
“We agreed to act openly and clearly in order to clear all questions and move forward,” he said.
In conclusion, Svyrydenko expressed hope that next week the government will be able to make a decision that will allow for the renewal of the BES and will make a significant contribution to a positive reset of relations between the state and business.
“I expect that next week we will be able to make a decision that will allow us to renew the work of the BES and will make a significant contribution to a positive reset of relations between the state and business,” Svyrydenko summarized.
Why a new person is being sought for the position of BES director
The Bureau of Economic Security (BES) wants to appoint a new head for several key reasons:
1. The failure of the BES reform and low efficiency. The previous head of the BES, Vadym Melnyk, has been in charge of the agency since its creation in 2021. For several years, the BES has been criticized for its inefficient work, low investigation rates, and lack of trust from business, international partners, and the law enforcement community. Under his leadership, the bureau failed to implement the announced reform – the elimination of duplication with the SBU, tax police and the SBI.
2. Requirements of international partners. The replacement of the BES head was part of Ukraine’s commitments to the IMF, EU and G7 to upgrade its anti-corruption and financial security institutions. According to the memorandums with the IMF, Ukraine committed to hold a transparent competition for the position of the BES head with the participation of international experts. This is a condition for receiving macro-financial assistance.
3. Political pressure and attempts to interfere with the competition. In mid-2023, Melnyk was fired, and since then, the BES has been headed by an acting head. In 2024-2025, the competition for a new head was repeatedly disrupted due to political conflicts, interference from the President’s Office, and attempts to discredit some candidates.
4. The need for real independence of the BES: Civil society organizations, including the AntAC, and business associations have repeatedly emphasized that the BES should become an independent body, not a political tool. The new head should guarantee depoliticization, focus on analytical activities, and restoration of trust on the part of business and international partners.
Therefore, the appointment of the new BES head is an attempt to restart the body that was supposed to be the key to fighting economic crimes but has not yet met expectations.
Filling the vacant position of the BES Head: how it all started
In June 2025, the competition commission completed all stages of the selection process, including interviews and special checks of candidates for the position of BES chairman. There were 16 applicants, two of whom made it to the final, and on June 24, the international part of the commission unanimously chose NABU detective Oleksandr Tsyvinsky as the winner.
However, on July 7, the Cabinet of Ministers refused to approve his candidacy, citing security risks identified by the SBU. In particular, they referred to Tsyvynskyi’s relatives with Russian citizenship, including his father. The Cabinet of Ministers instructed the commission to submit two other candidates who met all applicable security criteria.
Currently, Tsyvynskyi’s status as the winner of the competition to fill the vacant position of the BES head remains valid. The Commission even noted that the relevant authorities knew about his father’s Russian passport back in 2023. But this nuance cannot be a reason to disqualify the winner.
At the same time, economic experts, business representatives, and international partners are concerned that the disruption of the appointment of the BES head may complicate the fulfillment of Ukraine’s obligations to the IMF, EU, and G7 regarding anti-corruption reforms and the independence of the body.
What is known about Oleksandr Tsyvinsky
Oleksandr Tsyvynskyi is a detective at the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) with many years of experience in law enforcement. Born in Lviv region, he received a law degree and began his career in 2003 in the Ministry of Internal Affairs, where he worked as an investigator.
In 2015, Tsyvynskyi joined the NABU, becoming one of the first 70 detectives of the newly created anti-corruption agency. Later, he became the head of one of the detective units – the third unit of the second main department. During his tenure at NABU, Tsyvynskyi was involved in a number of high-profile anti-corruption investigations, including the cases against former MP Serhii Pashynskyi and Operation Clean City, which involved abuses in the property management system in the capital.
His team secured bail for record amounts for the NABU – in particular, in the Pashynskyi case, it reached UAH 270 million. All the investigations led by Tsyvynskyi concerned large-scale misappropriation of budget funds, tax evasion and corruption schemes at the highest levels of government.
Colleagues describe Tsyvynskyi as a professional who is respected by Ukraine’s international partners.
At the same time, Tsyvynskyi does not publicize his private life, avoids public appearances and rarely comments on investigations in the media. This has earned him the reputation of a “quiet specialist” who is focused on results rather than publicity.
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