All news

Scandal surrounding Rosagroleasing State Company gaining momentum

Former Minister of Agriculture Yelena Skrynnik, who is accused of embezzling money, has denied any involvement in the case

Scandal over 39 billion roubles that disappeared from the accounts of the state company Rosagroleasing is gaining momentum. Former Minister of Agriculture Yelena Skrynnik, who is accused of embezzling money, has denied any involvement in the case. Moreover, she said that she is not going to hide and is willing to cooperate with the investigation.

According to Yelena Skrynnik, she left Rosagroleasing in good condition, emphasises the Moskovsky Komsomolets daily. “When I was leaving the company, its debt was only 1 billion roubles. And the current sum of 39 billion roubles – I have nothing to do with that,” said Skrynnik, redirecting the question to the new leadership of the company. Skrynnik emphasised in a statement after accusations were voiced against her that when she worked in Rosagroleasing it was impossible to steal money from the corporation. And all the financial questions should now be addressed to former First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov who became head of the company’s board of directors after she left it.

The changed tonality of Skrynnik’s statements that she made in her native land stands out particularly, the Nezavisimaya Gazeta daily indicates. She no longer wants to be seen as a rich and successful businesswoman who can afford to buy houses abroad. Asked by REN TV if she, Skrynnik, really owns multimillion-dollar real estate in France and a clinic in Switzerland, the ex-minister confessed: she has real estate, but “very small, just 200 square metres.” And this house is declared. A she does not own the clinic. “I’m not rich, I am a bit well-to-do person,” modestly specified Skrynnik, adding that in this regard she has to think about what kind of a job to get to support herself and four children. However, just a few days ago, she was not at all shy about their capitals, explaining the sources of their accumulation by the fact that in the period from 1993 to 2009 she was legally running a business. “Therefore, I have real estate in France and everything, and with all taxes paid,” Skrynnik stated.