Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers has appointed veteran investigator Oleksandr Tsyvinsky as the new head of the Bureau of Economic Security (BES), following weeks of controversy and public backlash over the government’s initial refusal to confirm him.
Tsyvinsky, who previously served in the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), was selected by an independent commission that included both Ukrainian and international representatives. He successfully passed all background checks and a polygraph test, and his candidacy was approved in accordance with Ukrainian law.
As OCCRP reported earlier, the government had initially rejected Tsyvinsky’s nomination, citing concerns from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) over his father’s Russian citizenship — an issue the selection commission had already reviewed and dismissed. That decision sparked criticism from civil society, legal experts, and international partners, who viewed it as an attempt to derail the appointment of a reform-minded candidate.
U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, welcomed the move, stating that “Ukraine respected the independent selection process established by law, another critical step in Ukraine’s anti-corruption agenda.”
In a government statement released on Tuesday, officials confirmed that all necessary procedures had been completed and that there were now “no reservations” regarding Tsyvinsky’s candidacy. They expressed hope that his leadership will help restore trust in the BES, ensure fair economic governance, and dismantle shadow schemes that distort Ukraine’s business environment.
The Bureau had been without a permanent director for over a year, weakening its ability to effectively investigate financial crimes. Tsyvinsky’s appointment is expected to revitalize the institution and signal Ukraine’s continued commitment to transparency amid wartime and reconstruction pressures.
The controversy around his candidacy comes amid broader concerns about the state of Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions. Just last week, over 70 civil society groups condemned what they described as a politically motivated criminal case against military serviceman and prominent activist Vitaliy Shabunin.