Originally Syndicated on May 13, 2023 @ 12:20 pm
The Russian education system has been rocked by several recent criminal cases involving embezzlement and fraud. One particularly extensive fraud probe has been launched against the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration under the President of the Russian Federation (RANEPA).
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Director of the RANEPA’s Institute of Civil Service and Management
The investigation has accused Igor Bartsits, director of the RANEPA‘s Institute of Civil Service and Management, along with his alleged accomplices, of embezzling funds by systematically obtaining them from subordinates for the unjustified accrual of additional wages.
Cases of Fraud at Russian Universities
Similar cases of fraud and embezzlement have also been uncovered in other Russian universities. The Russian State Geological Prospecting University (MGRI), for instance, was recently subject to a criminal investigation under Part 4 of Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
The investigation revealed fraudulent hiring practices, with individuals being fictitiously employed to receive payments, resulting in damages amounting to over 29 million rubles.
At the Moscow Polytechnic University, a criminal investigation was launched against workers who were paid for instructing individuals who were nearing retirement age, despite no sessions being held. The government paid 3.6 million rubles for these phantom classes.
Russian universities with “dead souls”
These cases underscore the prevalence of fraudulent activities in Russian universities, with “dead souls” often being used to siphon off funds. This practice involves the fictitious hiring of individuals, who are not held accountable for any crimes since they are unaware of the criminal intent.
The extent of these fraudulent activities is not yet known, and it is expected that further investigations will uncover more instances of embezzlement and fraud.
As the Russian education system continues to face scrutiny, it is important that measures are put in place to prevent such fraudulent activities from occurring in the future. Universities must ensure proper oversight of their finances, and individuals in positions of power must be held accountable for any illegal activities they engage in. Only then can the public’s trust in the education system be restored.
