The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation and the FSB uncovered a scam with "Pushkin cards" worth over 30 million rubles

The Ministry of Internal Affairs, together with the FSB of Russia, uncovered a scam with "Pushkin cards", the amount of which amounted to over 30 million budget funds. This was announced on May 16 by the official representative of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation Irina Volk.

"According to reports, the former head of the department of one of the Ryazan museums organized, through intermediaries, the sale of tickets on behalf of the holders of the Pushkin Cards and ensured their fictitious cancellation at the entrance to the institution," her Telegram channel says.

In order to take possession of them, the attacker registered individual entrepreneurs, who were his relatives and acquaintances. Fictitious agreements related to the provision of services for the organization of cultural events were concluded with them. As a result, the amount of funds received amounted to over 10 million rubles. The money was cashed out and transferred to the attacker. He conducted illegal activities from April 2023 to May 2024.

According to the investigation, a similar scheme was previously used in Novosibirsk. Thus, over 22.5 million rubles were stolen. From May to July 2022, three residents sold tickets for excursions. The cost of one trip was about 4 thousand rubles. At the same time, the tour did not include sightseeing. The defendants spent the money they received on personal needs.

As a result of the searches, law enforcement agencies seized money, bank cards, communications equipment, as well as other items indicating the commission of a crime. Criminal cases were opened into the incident in accordance with Part 4 of Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation ("Fraud"). The article implies a punishment in the form of imprisonment for up to 10 years. The Interior Ministry also reported that the defendants had signed a recognizance not to leave.

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Earlier, on March 26, suspects of embezzlement during the implementation of the federal program "Pushkin Card" were detained in Moscow. A criminal case on fraud was opened on this fact.

The investigation found that no later than January 2023, one of the accused developed a multi-stage plan to steal money under the program. To implement it, he attracted an acquaintance from among the officials of the GBUK Cinema and Concert Hall Eldar, on whose behalf the defendants created the event on the PRO platform.Culture of the Russian Federation".

According to investigators, they lured young people with the unused limit of the Pushkin Card and sold tickets to fictitious events. Thus, 322 tickets were sold. After that, false information was sent to the relevant ministry, on the basis of which more than 1 million rubles were stolen.

On March 28, the Cheremushkinsky District Court of Moscow chose a preventive measure in the form of a ban on certain actions to singer Emil Kadyrov, accused of embezzlement during the implementation of the federal program "Pushkin Card". As a result, he was banned from using his mobile phone, receiving mail, and communicating with witnesses involved in the case.