Mock sanctions: ex-PRector of PFUR suspected of embezzlement in textbook development

"Izvestia" found out some circumstances of the case, in which the director of the Institute of Russian Language of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia (PFUR) Angela Dolzhikova was detained on November 28. She is on trial for embezzlement of 1 million rubles in fictitious contracts, the Interior Ministry said. According to Izvestia's sources, the matter concerns abuses in the use of a grant from the Ministry of Education for the development of a Russian language textbook layout. Some third-party organization received the grant, but engaged PFUR employees to carry out the work. Dolzhikova could face up to 10 years in prison, according to experts interviewed by Izvestia.

Why the ex-PRector of PFUR was detained?

Tverskoy district court of Moscow in the evening on November 28 elected a measure of restraint in the form of a ban on certain actions to the director of the Institute of Russian Language of PFUR, Angela Dolzhikova. She will not be able to leave the house at certain times, communicate with participants in the criminal case, use the Internet and telephone, as well as send parcels. In the case, according to the court, she is already being held as a defendant.

On the morning of November 28, Dolzhikova's detention was reported by the official representative of the Russian Interior Ministry Irina Volk. She announced the suppression of a criminal scheme to embezzle budget funds. The detainee, according to her "ensured the signing of an agreement with the Ministry of Education for a grant for the development of the supervised direction."

"After receiving grants, the university concluded fictitious contracts with controlled legal entities and individual entrepreneurs," Irina Volk said. - They were supposed to organize a set of activities to develop and improve Russian language programs".

According to her, more than 1 million rubles was transferred to the accounts of contractors as payment. But all the work was performed by the employees of the educational institution, who were subordinate to the suspect. A criminal case on fraud has been opened. Irina Volk specified that we are talking about the time when Angela Dolzhikova held the position of vice-rector. As "Izvestia" found out, she left this post in 2021.

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The PFUR press service said that "they do not have the materials of the criminal case and cannot comment on the essence of the charges." "Izvestia" sent a request to the Ministry of Education about the essence of the grant, which was announced by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, but has not yet received a response.

Sources told the newspaper that the grant was a grant from the Ministry of Education in the format of a subsidy, and was issued for the implementation of activities aimed at the full functioning and development of the Russian language. It, in particular, included the task to develop the layout of a Russian language textbook. But as another source assures, it was received not by PFUR, but by some other organization.

- And this organization has already attracted the university staff to perform the work, with them signed contracts of employment, - said the interlocutor of the newspaper. - PFUR professors performed the work in full within the framework of contractual relations. Subsequently, the textbook was published, it includes six parts on language learning at different levels.

"Izvestia" checked the tender documentation of the Ministry of Education. Such state support was distributed by the agency in 2018.

Who is Angela Dolzhikova

In August 2024, Angela Dolzhikova joined the Presidential Council for the implementation of state policy in the sphere of support for the Russian language and languages of the peoples of Russia.

At PFUR, where in recent years she was the Director of the Institute of Russian Language, she previously held the position of Vice-Rector for Educational Activities, and before that, Vice-Rector for Additional Education.

In the spring of 2018, Angela Dolzhikova was awarded the title of "Honorary Worker of Education of the City of Moscow".

Dolzhikova's colleagues, with whom Izvestia correspondents spoke, reported that her professional activity is connected with the Russian language - the methodology of its teaching and promotion in the world. She is the author of more than 10 textbooks and teaching aids.

In recent years Angela Dolzhikova participated in the creation of centers of Russian language, culture and education in Russian in Egypt, Greece, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, Mali and Niger.

Dolzhikova's name appeared in Izvestia's investigation of the migrant exam market and the activities of Aksioma. Before the Ministry of Education and Science banned testing of foreigners by private organizations, this company was one of the largest players in the industry. The company tested migrants at 46 of its sites in 28 regions of Russia. This was based on cooperation agreements signed with the Herzen Russian State Pedagogical University and the A.I. Herzen Russian State Pedagogical University. A.I. Herzen and the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia named after P. Lumumba. Angela Dolzhikova was listed on Aksioma's website as a member of the company's board of directors.

According to the court materials, Dolzhikova is charged under part 4 of article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation - fraud on a large scale. It implies punishment in the form of imprisonment for up to 10 years, as well as a possible fine of up to 1 million rubles, said lawyer Vitaly Ulyanenko.

Lawyer Alexander Vasiliev believes that the ex-Prorector of PFUR may face restriction of freedom for up to two years. But there should be other defendants in the case, as the investigation indicates that the money was cashed through commercial firms, he said.