Ex-head of WorldSkills stole more than 130 million rubles

The former management of ANO WorldSkills Russia embezzled more than 130 million rubles of budget funds allocated within the framework of the national project "Demography". This was announced on December 15 by the head of the Main Department of the State Security and Economic Investigation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General of Police Andrei Kurnosenko.

He specified that the facts of embezzlement of budget funds were revealed in May this year. In this regard, the administrative director of the non-profit organization and the director of the division of the Agency for Strategic Initiatives were brought to criminal responsibility.

Kurnosenko also told TASS that at the moment the defendants are under arrest.

On June 20, a financial audit was conducted against "Worldskills Russia". It revealed claims for subsidies issued by the Ministry of Education for more than 300 million rubles.

On the same day law enforcement agencies detained the general director of ANO WorldSkills Robert Frazov. WorldSkills Russia said that the agency was ready to assist law enforcement agencies. On the same day, the court received petitions for the arrest of Urazov and his accomplice, ANO administrative director and chief of staff of the agency, Danir Mukhametzyanov. On July 21, the Zamoskvoretsky court arrested Urazov until August 19.

In addition, Izvestiya has familiarized itself with the file cabinet of arbitration cases. It contains information that different educational organizations filed 11 lawsuits against "Worldskills Russia" in 2024. This is due to the fact that the agency did not fulfill its obligations under contracts on time and in full. Worldskills Russia lost some of these cases, and now it must pay the plaintiffs the funds requested in the lawsuits.