Ukraine appoints long-awaited economic security chief in reform push

KYIV - Ukraine’s government on Aug 6 appointed a new economic security chief after weeks of delay as part of a campaign to strengthen governance, fulfilling a key condition for Kyiv to continue receiving critical wartime support from Western lenders.

Stamping out graft and tightening a clunky bureaucracy are critical to Ukraine's bid for membership in the European Union and its defence against a Russian invasion now in its fourth year.

Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said Mr Oleksandr Tsyvinsky, a former anti-corruption investigator, was appointed to lead the Economic Security Bureau after “proper checks” that included a successful polygraph test.

Ukraine’s previous government had come under fire in July for failing to appoint Mr Tsyvinsky, who was unanimously backed by an international selection committee, over security concerns. Watchdogs had cast doubt on that explanation.

Ms Svyrydenko said on X: “There are no reservations regarding his candidacy.”

The European Commission had earlier urged Kyiv to speed up the appointment.

Following

her appointment in July

, Ms Svyrydenko said her government would prioritise cutting red tape and protecting entrepreneurs, including by cracking down on excessive pressure on businesses by law enforcement.

“It is important that economic relations in Ukraine are not distorted by shadowy schemes and that business can count on respect and cooperation from the state,” she said. REUTERS