Failed one question: how the ex-director of the Ministry of Defense Liiev passed the polygraph test

  • 9:50, 06 February, 2024

Oleksandr Liev takes a polygraph test in front of journalists. Photo: hromadske Oleksandr Liiev takes a polygraph test in front of journalists. Photo: hromadske

The former head of the Department of Military-Technical Policy, Development of Weapons and Military Equipment of the Ministry of Defense Oleksandr Liiev passed a «public polygraph» to prove his innocence. He failed on one question — about instructions from the management.

hromadske had the results of the pre-test study of Oleksandr Liiev. The hromadske correspondent also attended the public inspection.

Oleksandr Liiev and four other people are suspected of embezzling almost 1.5 billion hryvnias for the purchase of ammunition for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to the Security Service of Ukraine, in October 2022, officials of the Ministry of Defense concluded a contract for the purchase of a wholesale batch of mortar rounds with the Lviv Arsenal company. Then the Ministry of Defense transferred the money to the company's accounts, but the company never sent the ammunition.

Oleksandr Liev organized the polygraph examination himself. Before the public polygraph, on February 5, the accused passed a pre-test examination.

There were seven questions in total:

  1. Did Oleksandr Liev receive illegal benefits (money, property, valuables, cryptocurrency, services) as a result of the contract with Lviv Arsenal LLC?
  2. Were you acquainted with the head of LLC «Lviv Arsenal» Yuriy Zbitnev and the representative of Sevotech Oleksiy Khoroshayev at the time of signing the contract? But did he have a conspiracy with them? Did he have contact with them other than official correspondence?
  3. Did Oleksandr Liev know in advance that this contract would not be fulfilled?
  4. Did Oleksandr Liev insist on the provision of fines in the amount of UAH 200 million in the event of contract failure included in the contract?
  5. Did Oleksandr Liev receive an instruction from the management to conclude a contract with «Lviv Arsenal» from the leaders of the Ministry of Defense?
  6. Did Oleksandr Liev intend to leave Ukraine in order to hide from the investigation?
  7. Is Oleksandr Liev ready to assist the investigation in establishing the truth in this case?

According to the results of the pre-test study on February 2, which were at the disposal of the editors, Oleksandr Liev gave a false answer to one of the questions. It concerned whether the exhibitor received an instruction from the management to enter into a contract with Lviv Arsenal from the heads of the Ministry of Defense. On February 2, Oleksandr Liev answered «no» to this question, and this answer, according to the polygraph examiner, was false.

The conclusions of the study on the polygraph of Oleksandr Liev. Photo courtesy of hromadske The conclusions of the study on the polygraph of Oleksandr Liev. Photo courtesy of hromadske
The conclusions of the study on the polygraph of Oleksandr Liev. Photo courtesy of hromadske The conclusions of the study on the polygraph of Oleksandr Liev. Photo courtesy of hromadske

On February 5, Oleksandr Liev answered this very question: «no... and yes, and no, here...» When he was asked to give an exact answer to the question, he said: «no, we need to explain here."

In the end, the polygraph examiner removed the question, due to the fact that it «was not perceived by the respondent», and Oleksandr Liev had an «increased reaction».

What happened?

Recently, the National Police and the Security Service, with the assistance of the Ministry of Defense , announced suspicions against those involved in the case of the embezzlement of almost 1.5 billion hryvnias for the purchase of ammunition for the Armed Forces. hromadske dedicated an investigation to this case.

It is noted that one of the participants - an exhibitor of the Ministry of Defense - was detained while trying to leave Ukraine. He is currently in custody. As informed by hromadske's source in the law enforcement agencies, it is about Oleksandr Liev, the former acting head of the Department of Military and Technical Policy of the Ministry of Defense.

Also, 1.5 billion hryvnias were returned to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine after the termination of a loss-making contract with a special exporter for the purchase of a batch of artillery shells for the Armed Forces.

On February 1, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Rustem Umyerov , suspended the acting director of the Department of Military-Technical Policy, Development of Weapons and Military Equipment, Toomas Nakhkur.

View full version