“The only right decision” — Expert on Tsyvinskyi’s appointment as Director of the Economic Security Bureau

“The only right decision”, says Bohdan Slutskyi, an expert at the Centre for Economic Strategy, commenting on Ukrainian Radio about the appointment of Oleksandr Tsyvinskyi as Director of the Economic Security Bureau (ESBU). According to him, several factors contributed to this outcome: the protests against draft law No.12414 concerning NABU and SAPO, the reaction of Ukraine’s international partners, and the IMF’s “structural benchmark” requiring the government to appoint a new head of the ESBU by the end of July. As a result, Tsyvinskyi underwent an additional vetting process, and the Bureau finally has a leader. “All the tools are in place — now Tsyvinskyi’s ESBU must deliver results”, Slutskyi concludes.

“A combination of factors”

On August 6, the government finally appointed Oleksandr Tsyvinskyi as Director of the Economic Security Bureau. Was this the result of how the situation with attempts to undermine the independence of anti-corruption institutions was handled — to demonstrate the government’s consistency and determination? Or simply the result of mounting pressure?

I would say the latter — and I would add that it was a combination of factors. There was no single trigger. On the one hand, we had the events of July 22 and July 31 (President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed law No.13533 “expanding the powers of NABU and SAPO”, following the adoption of draft law No.12414, which sparked protests and public criticism — CES). For the first time since the full-scale invasion, people took to the streets in protest — and that is painful, I think. We may later see this reflected in approval ratings and in public expectations. At the same time, there was the IMF benchmark requiring the EBSU director to be appointed by the end of July. There was also sustained public and international attention — not just from Ukrainian media, politicians, economists, and lawyers, but from abroad as well. It kept growing louder. Ultimately, Tsyvinskyi had a meeting with the new Prime Minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, and they agreed he would take a polygraph test, even though it is not mandated by law. In the end, the polygraph cleared the way for what I believe was the only right decision.

“The polygraph was invented to put things in order”

Was the polygraph test part of the official competition rules, or just an additional step — perhaps a last attempt to disqualify him?

I think it was the opposite. It wasn’t to remove him, but rather to create a narrative: that he passed the test and proved his integrity. There needed to be something to show that the delays were not for nothing, that concerns had been addressed. There had been rumors about his integrity, alleged relatives in Russia, even an SBU letter that nobody ever saw in the public domain. A way out of that situation had to be found. The controversy around NABU and SAPO, the IMF benchmark, and signals from donors — warning of possible complications with further financing — all combined to push for a resolution. The polygraph served as that resolution, giving the process a positive ending.

“His perspective matters”

During our podcast on Sunday, Business Ombudsman and former Canadian Ambassador Roman Waschuk pointed out that Canada has far fewer anti-corruption institutions, and that overturning the results of an open competition would be unthinkable. Does this appointment leave a lasting negative impression?

I think it does, based on what I see and the language being used to describe the whole situation. And I agree with Mr. Waschuk. It’s unfortunate if he does not continue for another term — he is highly professional, with immense experience. His perspective is valuable, not just subjective but grounded in concrete data. He works daily with business cases, publishes detailed quarterly and annual reports, and actively engages with the ESBU, tax authorities, and customs to advocate for businesses and resolve disputes.

“The procedure matters more than the name”

Now that the ESBU will be responsible for investigating all economic crimes, will conflicts arise with agencies previously handling these cases?

This is not about Oleksandr Tsyvinskyi personally. Some say international partners pushed specifically for him. In reality, the key issue is that the procedure was followed. The individual’s name is secondary. If he won a transparent competition with the highest score, then he should be appointed. But appointment is only half the battle. He now needs to use the legal powers at his disposal: appoint deputies, build a vertical structure, fill vacancies, and re-certify current staff in both the central office and regional branches. That won’t happen in a week or two — it will take at least a year or more. He must establish recruitment and re-certification commissions, which involves thousands of employees and is inherently a long process. To succeed, he needs a strong team to rely on — no matter how skilled he is, he cannot manage this alone. He also has to communicate his every step clearly, so that both society and business understand his actions. That will make his job far easier.

“A complex task”

The recent corruption scandal involving the head of the Energy Customs, who was suspended from office, illustrates the kind of challenges Tsyvinskyi will face. Do you agree?

Yes, I agree. That’s why it is also critical to move forward with the competition for a new head of customs. There is no single institution or “magic law” that can solve all problems. This requires a comprehensive approach.

“All the tools are there — now it’s time to deliver”

The law establishing the ESBU was passed back in 2021, the competition for its head took a year and a half, and now, in 2025, it will take another year or more to fully form the institution. Are you not concerned that time is passing, yet society has still not seen any tangible results?”

Of course, we would all like to see quick results. But realistically, when dealing with thousands of employees, you cannot fire everyone and instantly recruit a new, clean, independent, and talented staff. They must be identified and re-certified — that takes time. Still, this does not mean personnel issues should overshadow the actual work expected of the Bureau. Both tracks can proceed in parallel. The law sets clear powers, and the Bureau has the capacity to be effective. All the instruments are in place. Now it’s time to show results.

Source: Ukrainian radio