Competition for ARMA head extended to February 9 — too few applications for a competitive selection
The position responsible for recovering stolen assets has a direct impact on reconstruction budgets. But only 13 applications were submitted to the competition — why this matters now.
By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik
January 19, 2026 · 2 min read
Deadlines and numbers
The selection commission for the head of the National Agency for the Recovery and Management of Assets (ARMA) has extended the deadline for submitting documents to 9 February. The decision was announced during a live broadcast of the meeting on the Cabinet's website. The deadline had previously been set for 19 January.
According to the commission chair, only 13 candidates applied for the competition.
"Unfortunately, this is not the number we, as a commission, would like to see in order to ensure, in our view, the most competitive selection possible and the election of the best candidate for this position"
— Kateryna Ryzhenko, head of the selection commission
Why this matters
ARMA is responsible for tracing and managing assets seized from corrupt officials and state wrongdoers. The agency's effectiveness directly affects the resource base for restoring infrastructure and implementing anti-corruption measures. A small number of applicants increases the risk that the selection will not ensure sufficient transparency or professionalism — which undermines the trust of partners and investors.
In June the Verkhovna Rada passed a law to reboot ARMA: the selection commission must now shortlist no more than two candidates, and the Cabinet appoints the head for a five-year term within 10 days after receiving the commission's proposal. The previous head, Olena Duma, was relieved of her duties on 30 July 2025 at her own request — since then the agency has been operating without a permanent head.
Why there are few candidates (brief analysis)
Experts point to several likely reasons: strict requirements and thorough vetting, a high level of political risk for the head of such an agency, and close scrutiny from international partners. Competition may also be slowed by legal changes and by waiting to see how the new appointment mechanism will work in practice.
What comes next — practical consequences
The extension of the deadline gives time to attract additional applications and increase the transparency of the competition. At the same time, it is a signal to the Cabinet and donors: they need either to encourage specialist participation or to review communication and selection criteria. If the number of applicants does not rise, the commission risks presenting a narrower pool of candidates to the government — and then the quality of the appointment may suffer.
The explanation is simple: the head of ARMA is not only tasked with managing assets, but is also a test of the state’s ability to effectively recover resources needed for reconstruction and for strengthening public institutions.
Conclusion
Now the ball is in the court of those who set the agenda: the selection commission must make the process more attractive, the Cabinet must be ready to act quickly on the results, and civil society and donors must monitor the process. Whether it will be possible to attract qualified candidates and turn declarations into real indicators of asset recovery is the question that will determine how capable the state property management system will be in the coming years.
