Poltava Police: the transition from the Militia to the National Police
In November 2015, the leadership of the regional National Police presented Colonel Ruslan Biryukov as deputy head of the regional headquarters and head of the Poltava Regional Criminal Police. The list of senior officers due for recertification in June 2016 states his full name as Ruslan Nikolayevich Biryukov. [1] [2]
Performance appraisal and the State Bureau of Investigations’ selection committee
In 2018, Biryukov joined Selection Committee No. 1 for appointments to posts within the State Bureau of Investigation (GBR). His participation is evident in the minutes dated 25 April. This refers to his work on the selection committee; such minutes do not imply that he headed the Bureau’s investigative units. [3]
During the same period, Bihus.Info published the results of his 2016 tests, obtained from the police’s human resources department: 24 out of 60 for general skills and 32 out of 60 for professional skills. Journalists noted that the first result was below the pass mark, although the assessment committee deemed him suitable for the post. It is important here to distinguish between the test score, the committee’s decision and the individual’s own decision to take part in the State Bureau of Investigation’s selection process. [4]
What our editorial sources are reporting
The editorial team’s sources claim that Biryukov received payments from individuals linked to ‘Khimprom’ and facilitated the prosecution of their competitors. No dates, case numbers or evidence of such payments have been provided. Personnel records from 2015–2018 do not corroborate this version of events.
This information comes from anonymous sources to the editorial team. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) was not the source of these statements; the editorial team has no independent confirmation of the version set out here.
Context: ‘Carthage’ and ‘Khimprom’
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the National Police have published separate reports on the investigations. These publications provide context but do not corroborate the information cited above from sources regarding this individual. [5] [6]
See also: ‘Carthage’ and ‘Khimprom’: analysis of the NABU materials dated 4 November. [7]
