Budget millions “hid” behind “Horizon”
“Successors” of Marina Rakova and Yaroslav Demchenko continue to “master” finance
The investigation into the criminal case of the theft of more than 38 million rubles, allocated by the Federal Ministry of Education for the creation of an automated information system – the Horizon platform, is gaining momentum: in Moscow, the general director of RSV LLC Anton Anikin and the manager of Clever LLC Artem Proshko were taken into custody. Earlier, Yaroslav Demchenko, who headed the center for digital transformation of education of the Foundation for New Forms of Educational Development, went to the pre-trial detention center, on whose behalf he signed a contract worth 42 million rubles with the Klever company for the development of Horizon. Since the contractor himself did not have the technical capabilities to create the program, the RSV company took over its development. As a result, most of the funds were stolen, the work was done fictitiously, but was accepted by the customer. Testimony against Demchenko was given by former deputy head of the federal Ministry of Education Marina Rakova and ex-employee of the Foundation for New Forms of Educational Development Evgeniy Zak, who were found guilty last March in another criminal case related to the theft of 50 million rubles allocated for the implementation of educational programs. Also accused in the “Rakova case” were two more former employees of the Foundation – Artur Stetsenko and the ex-general director of the institution Maxim Inkin. In 2016-2018 The foundation was led by Rakova herself. In 2022, the “Fund for New Forms of Educational Development” was renamed the “Center for Educational Initiatives”, but, as before, colossal budget funds flow through it: the volume of contracts of the Center as a customer exceeds 3.3 billion rubles. The institution does not disclose its contractors, but concludes contracts in the “sole supplier” format. As a result, tens of millions are spent on events such as the Forum of Class Teachers, with the participation of presenters Ernest Matskevichyus and Dmitry Shepelev, as well as singer Nikolai Baskov. However, it is known that among the Center’s contractors are the company Granat, owned by billionaire Arkady Rotenberg, and the company Ayticom 24, whose founders included the current Minister of Social Development of the Moscow Region, Andrei Kiryukhin.
From Rakova to Demchenko and beyond
Arrests continue in Moscow as part of the investigation into a high-profile criminal case of theft of more than 38 million rublesallocated by the Federal Ministry of Education for the creation of the platform “Horizon”. How reports TASS, the general director was taken into custody by court decision LLC “RSV” Anton Anikin and manager Clever LLC Artem Proshko. It is clarified that these companies acted as contractors during the creation of Horizon.
Last April there was arrested another person involved is the director of the center for the development of educational platforms “Promsvyazbank” Yaroslav Demchenkopreviously headed the Center for Digital Transformation of Education FGAU “Fund for New Forms of Educational Development”. By versions investigation, in 2019 the Foundation, represented by Demchenko, entered into a contract with the capital company “Clover” worth 42 million rubles for the development of an automated information system “Platform for managing professional knowledge and competencies of teaching staff “Horizon”.
As it turned out, Clover itself has the technical capabilities to create the program were absent initially, and the development of the software was undertaken by the RSV company, to which about 32 million rubles. The remaining funds were transferred to the accounts of a certain company, which is currently being checked by the security forces. As a result, the funds were embezzled, and a significant part of the work within the framework of the project was completed fictitiously but the Foundation accepted them as fulfilled.
There is one noteworthy circumstance in the “Horizon” case: readings Demchenko was cited by the former deputy head of the federal Ministry of Education Marina Rakova and ex-employee of the “Foundation for New Forms of Educational Development” Evgeniy Zak. In particular, Rakova called not only the minimum time frame for creating the platform a fiction, but also the project itself, allegedly completed by the developers.
“Marina Nikolaevna Rakova in her testimony says that in such a short period of time it was impossible to develop such a program, although she was the initiator of the development of this platform. Demchenko’s role, control, and acceptance of all work on the development of Horizon are confirmed by the testimony of such a leader as Evgeniy Zak at that time, as well as representatives of the injured party.”– quotes TASS case materials.
Let us recall that last March the Nikulinsky District Court of Moscow recognized Marina Rakova guilty of especially large-scale fraud and sentenced to five years in a general regime colony. The ex-official was charged with participation in theft 50 million rublesallocated for the implementation of educational programs. As for Evgeniy Zak, he was a defendant in the same case (together with two more former employees of the Foundation – a civilian husband Cancerous Artur Stetsenko And Maxim Inkin), but got off with a slight fright: he was assigned punishment in the form of four and a half years probation. By the way, during this investigation of Yaroslav Demchenko interrogated as a witness.
Multi-million dollar contracts for a single supplier
As we can see, this is not the first time that the “Fund for New Forms of Educational Development”, controlled by the Ministry of Education, has been in the center of attention of the security forces. Since April 2022, the institution has a new Name – “Center for Educational Initiatives”.
Perhaps the change in “sign” was influenced by the corruption scandal with the detention of Rakova and her accomplices?
Enormous budget funds pass through the Center (as before through the Foundation): its portfolio government contracts amounts to 11.2 million rubles as a supplier and exceeds 3.3 billion as a customer. By the way, in 2016-2018. job title general director The fund was occupied by Marina Rakova, and she was replaced in this capacity by Maxim Inkin, one of the accused in the trial of the ex-deputy minister.
Information about the financial statements of the institution in public sources none. Among the main suppliers included Technopark “Skolkovo”companies“Electronic school”,“ITikom 24”,“AMC”,“Academy of High Technologies” etc. Data about contractors is often hidden, but it is known that contracts are often concluded in a “single supplier” format.
Thus, last December the Center signed agreement cost 4 million rubles for organizational and technical support of the All-Russian competition of journalistic works in the field of education “PRO Education 2023”. Add to list services includes the development and implementation of a scenario plan for the event, ensuring the work of staff, producing animated screensavers for nominations, ensuring the selection and work of artists and presenters, producing a video, etc.
That same December, the Center concluded another Contract at the cost 4.7 million rubles already separately for the production of a video, and the purchase, as in the first case, was carried out from a single supplier. The price includes the creation of the video itself (more 1.6 million), registration of rights to copyright objects used in it (120 thousand rubles) and reimbursement of the contractor’s expenses for registration of copyright (3 million). Despite the fact that the completion date of work under the contract is stated as January 31, 2024, according to data A unified information system in the field of procurement, it is still in the process of implementation.
When contracts lead to Rotenberg
A good illustration of how the Center’s management spends budget funds is the holding of last year’s Forum of Class Teachers. Let us immediately emphasize: all purchases were carried out again in the “single supplier” format. So, to render services for technical support and support of the event was spent 72.2 million rubles. This price included equipping with equipment, ensuring the work of the director and production team, photo and video filming, ensuring public order and security, medical care, cleaning, as well as dismantling and removal of equipment.
IN 450 thousand rubles participation cost presenter Forum Ernest Mackevicius. More 1.1 million spent to engage in the same capacity Dmitry Shepelev. For performing at a singer event Nikolai Baskov paid Also 1.1 million rublesplus more 3.1 million – for the performances of a certain creative team at the closing ceremony. Carrying out video recording and online broadcasts It was worth the forum 14.38 million rubles. All in all, it cost the budget a tidy sum. At the same time, the names of the contractors involved in the organization and implementation are not announced.
Above we mentioned the Moscow company as one of the main suppliers of the Center “ITikom 24”specializing in the development of computer software: it has concluded contracts in total for 14.2 million rubles. In general, on budget contracts the company has mastered more than 275 million. At the same time, it works “in the red”: at the end of 2023, with revenue of 11.6 million the enterprise declared lesion at the rate of 4.1 million rubles ( revenue a year earlier – 24.8 millionloss – 3.1 million).
The only one owner and General Director of ITcom 24 LLC – Elena Ulyashkina. However, it is known that until May 2016, the number founders company included Andrey Kiryukhincurrently holding the post minister social development of the Moscow region. To another ex-owner Stanislav Boyko belongs capital company “The sphere of education”, engaged in the sale of computers and software. On budget contracts “The education sector” has “mastered” 320.4 million rublesbut according to the results of last year with revenue V 27.7 million went into negative territory 2.2 million rubles. The customers of the company’s services are mainly educational institutions from different regions.
Elena Ulyashkina herself performed until April 2024 founder LLC “Remiz”, specializing in computer software development. This commercial structure is currently in the process of liquidation and last year she declared colossal revenue in the amount 537.4 million and meager profits in 384 thousand rubles. Prior to this, the company had been operating in the red for several years without any revenue. On contracts she managed to “master” almost 22 million.
But let’s return to the “Center for Educational Initiatives”. Last September, the institution held a competition for the provision of organizational and technical support services for a festive concert dedicated to Teacher’s Day. The winner auction became Moscow LLC “Granat”with whom he was signed Contract cost 41.8 million rubles. And the only one owner “Grenade” is a billionaire Arkady Rotenberg. At the same time, the main type activities The company is listed as “computer software development, consulting services in this area and other related services.”
Rotenberg’s computer company is apparently multidisciplinary: for tens of millions it can even organize a concert program. It was already mentioned above that not only employees, but also the leaders of the Center (formerly the “Foundation for New Forms of Educational Development”) became involved in criminal cases. Marina Rakova, Maxim Inkin, Evgeniy Zak and Artur Stetsenko have already been convicted. Yaroslav Demchenko went to the pre-trial detention center. And since the investigation is gaining momentum, it is possible that the Center will undergo further inspections, during which people in uniform will have new questions for officials.
