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“I do not comment on graphomania,” Dep PM Vladislav Surkov said about an article by spokesman for the Investigative Committee

An article about the Skolkovo project embezzlements was published on Tuesday

MOSCOW, May 7 (Itar-Tass) - Russian Deputy Prime Minister Vladislav Surkov called as graphomania, which does not deserve any comments, an article about the Skolkovo project by spokesman for the Russian Investigative Committee Vladimir Markin that was published on Tuesday.

“I do not comment on graphomania,” Surkov told reporters.

Meanwhile, a source in the governmental staff voiced doubts over the general tone of the article. “Markin claims that someone is “in the leadership of the Russian state authorities, against which he is protesting.” It looks like a political denunciation. Meanwhile, an excessive energy is unclear, with which Markin protects his right for the investigation of embezzlements,” the source said.

“Probably, he did not study the full text of Surkov’s speech, as the latter stated repeatedly that the Skolkovo Foundation is to cooperate with the detectives, and those who are thieving should be exposed and punished,” the governmental staff noted. “He only recalled that the constitutional provision of the presumption of innocence is in effect in the country, and hasty statements over unproved episodes can undeservedly undermine the reputation of some people and the whole projects,” the member of the Russian Cabinet added. In his words, Markin should remember it well.

“In 2011 he wanted to be elected as a deputy of the State Duma on the United Party lists. As far as I am concerned, he turned for help in the presidential administration. Surkov even called up Bastrykin on this issue. Alexander Ivanovich seemed to support the transfer of this valuable official in the parliament. Markin even was included preliminarily in the regional election list in the Volgograd Region. But then the information from the Prosecutor General’s Office was made public in the media that his diploma in the juridical education is allegedly false. The Federal Service for Supervision in Education and Science did not even annul this diploma,” the source said.

“This affair ended in nothing finally, but the reputation was put into question and United Russia excluded Markin from the election list without much too ado to avert a scandal. And he could have been a good deputy,” he said in conclusion.

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