Former Russian Deputy Culture Minister Olga Yarilova was arrested in Moscow in connection with the investigation of a criminal case concerning the theft of more than 200 million rubles from the budget as part of the Pushkin Map project. On this subject transmits TASS reports referring to its law enforcement sources.
According to the agency’s interlocutors, on April 19, investigative actions were carried out with the ex-official “as part of the investigation of a criminal case for fraud”. Telegram channel “112” writing that Yarilov is “suspected of a crime of corruption”.
Olga Yarilova was born in 1970, holds a doctorate in pedagogy, since 2005 she has held various positions in the Ministry of Culture, in 2013 she headed the department of tourism and regional policy, and in 2018 she she became deputy head of the department. His professional responsibilities in this position included the coordination and monitoring of the work of the Department of Regional Policy, Education and Project Management, the Department of Cinematography and Digital Development, the Department of Civil Service and the fight against corruption, as well as the All-Russian Department state public organization “Russian Fund of Culture”.
In September 2022, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin sign an order to release Yarilova from her post. Subsequently at the Ministry of Culture assured that Yarilova left the position of her own free will.
The case of embezzlement using “Pushkin cards”
In early March, Russia’s Investigative Committee announced that it was investigating a criminal case of large-scale embezzlement of budget funds. According to investigators, the opportunities that opened up through the Pushkin Card program were used to commit fraudulent actions.
At that time, the defendants in the case were Moscow region residents Viktor Yakubov, Emil Gurbanov and Ilya Safonov, who according to the ICR used fictitious Pushkin cards issued by Post Bank in 2022 to steal more than 200 million rubles.
The ICR said the suspects deceived employees of the bank and the Russian Ministry of Culture “by arranging a massive purchase of tickets without the aim of properly organizing relevant cultural events”.
At the request of investigators, the assets of Yakubov, Gurbanov and Safonov, estimated in total at more than 100 million rubles, were arrested, and the men themselves were taken into custody.
Pushkin Card is a program aimed at increasing the accessibility of cultural events for Russians between the ages of 14 and 22. By registering on the Gosuslugi website in the special Culture section, they can apply for a virtual or plastic Mir card, on which 5,000 rubles are credited to the budget. Of this amount, 2,000 rubles can be spent on cinema tickets, the rest – on visits to museums, theaters, exhibitions and concerts. Information about events that can be visited using the Pushkin card is published on the Kultura.RF portal and in the State Services Culture application, as well as on the websites of cultural institutions.
About the fraud with “Pushkin cards” and the March 9 tourist cashback program informed Head of Rosfinmonitoring Yury Chikhanchin to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Explaining the essence of the fraudulent scheme created to steal funds, the official said the criminal group “compiled imaginary lists of people who should have received benefits, but they (the people) were not (in do)”. “Dead souls,” Putin commented.
“These people have been arrested, assets have been arrested. The work is carried out jointly with the FSB. Pretty much the same situation was with tourist cashback,” Chikhanchin added. The head of state replied with the words “Whatever you do, scammers are appearing everywhere”.
The Ministry of Culture assured Russian media that together with the FKU of Digital Culture subordinate to it, they are constantly monitoring the Internet for fraudulent sites, audiences, groups, accounts and advertisements offering services of receipt of funds from the Pushkin card.
“Specialists from the Ministry of Culture of Russia reported the identified cases to Roskomnadzor in order to block this content. Additionally, specialists contact community administrators and interact closely with the social media administrations themselves,” the department said.
The ministry also says it systematically identifies private organizations that withdraw money from Pushkin cards under the guise of selling tickets to events.
“A list of risk factors has been defined, the analysis of which makes it possible to identify the suspicious activities of the participants. If signs of illegal ticket sales are found, all necessary measures are taken, participants are blocked, ”says the Ministry of Culture.
The agency said that in August 2022, it provided the Russian Interior Ministry with data on the alleged fraud of more than 30 participants in the Pushkin Card program, and based on this information, criminal proceedings were initiated. engaged in Moscow, Samara and other Russian cities. , the Ministry of Culture being considered as an injured party.
In September 2022, as reported in the department, almost all private organizations working with the Pushkin card underwent an additional examination, which was carried out by specialists from the Ministry of Culture itself, the Ministry of Digital Development and Post Bank. In addition, the Ministry of Culture is developing an initiative to introduce electronic certification of program participants.
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