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Prosecutors report Skolkovo innovation hub violations to Investigative Committee

MOSCOW, February 12. /ITAR-TASS/. Prosecution has forwarded to investigators four documents on violations at the Skolkovo innovation hub for deciding on whether to open proceedings," Prosecutor General Yuri Chaika said at the Government Hour session at the State Duma lower house of Russia's parliament.

Earlier, prosecutors had expressed concern over possible misuse of 125 billion rubles in Skolkovo. Misuse was uncovered during a check of the Skolkovo Foundation and its affiliates in practically all areas — from the making of trailers to allocating grants and construction of facilities.

Following the inspection, the Prosecutor General's Office demanded that the Foundation director compensate the damage, eliminate the violations of law and their causes and discipline the culprits.

Prosecutors later stated that the Skolkovo Foundation "took exhaustive measures" to comply with their demands.

Meanwhile, the Investigative Committee launched a probe into several criminal cases related to Skolkovo. One case was opened against Kirill Lugovtsev, director of an organization handling commercialization of new technologies and Vladimir Khokhlov, director of the Skolkovo-based customs/financial company. Criminal proceedings were opened after an inspection by the Audit Chamber and the Federal Security Service which found that a Skolkovo Foundation affiliate had been idling for two years while receiving budget money, allegedly for repairs and paying the rent and wages to its staff.

Another case is investigated against former Vice-President of the Skolkovo Foundation Alexei Beltyukov. State Duma deputy Ilya Ponomaryov is a witness in this case.

The investigator said Beltyukov had misused $750,000 of Skolkovo funds in the period from February 2011 through February 2012.

He tried to conceal it by signing contracts with Ponomaryov on behalf of Skolkovo. Under the contract, Ponomaryov had to read ten lectures in a number of Russian cities and conduct a $450,000 research, an Investigative Committee official said.