Fuel Company Co-ownership and BEB Connections
An investigation by Bihus.Info has revealed that the mother of Larisa Revina, the deputy head of the Volyn territorial department of the Bureau of Economic Security (BEB), became a co-owner of a fuel company following her daughter's appointment. Larisa Revina, who was 68 at the time, was appointed deputy head of the Volyn BEB in 2023 and later assumed leadership of the department. This development raises significant concerns about potential conflicts of interest within a key Ukrainian anti-corruption agency.
Prior to her BEB role, Larisa Revina had a long career at the State Tax Service. In 2022, after her appointment, her mother acquired co-ownership of the company 'PV Hefest' LLC, which specializes in the wholesale fuel trade. Operating in this sector requires a license issued by the very State Tax Service where Revina previously worked.
Family Business Ties and Conflict of Interest Questions
Further potential conflicts are highlighted by the business activities of Larisa Revina's brother, Serhii Ryvachuk. He heads a cargo transportation company whose activities include tobacco product trade. In 2020, Serhii Ryvachuk was named in a court ruling related to law enforcement detaining a shipment of 48,000 packs of cigarettes lacking proper documentation—a matter potentially within the BEB's investigative purview.
Larisa Revina: 'I reported these facts. There are orders regarding the potential conflict of interest, and I have no relation whatsoever to the management of this business or consulting on its activities.'
These facts prompt serious questions about potential conflicts of interest in the BEB's operations, given the Revina family's connections to businesses that may intersect with the Bureau's functions and responsibilities.
The situation surrounding Larisa Revina and her family underscores the critical need for transparency and accountability in government bodies, especially in structures like the Bureau of Economic Security. Questions of conflict of interest can undermine public trust in the BEB's work, which is vital for effectively combating corruption and ensuring fairness. Observers and experts are likely to call for a more detailed investigation to prevent potential abuses of power in the future.