Deputy Rector of 'Sinergetika' Held Over 20M Ruble Theft

In Moscow, Mikhail Erofeev, the vice-rector of the private university

Consensus

Mikhail Yerofeev, the deputy rector of 'Sinergetika', was detained in Moscow.
The detention is linked to a state contract worth 31.5 million rubles for an online qualification course.
Investigations are focused on alleged embezzlement of nearly 20 million rubles.
The university underwent searches and document seizures.
Yerofeev was questioned by investigators in connection with a criminal case under Article 159, Part 4 of the Russian Criminal Code (fraud in especially large scale).
The university continues operations and is cooperating with the investigation.
The contract was allegedly fulfilled with only 13.5 million rubles spent, and the results did not meet technical specifications.
The case is related to a 2023 state contract with Rosmolodezh.
The university claims the contract was awarded through competitive procedures and fully executed.

Yerofeev is currently in a temporary detention center. — fontanka
Yerofeev was sent to house arrest. — vm
Yerofeev was shown in handcuffs during the search. — tg_astrapress
The Russian Academy of Education found that the university's reports did not meet technical requirements. — tg_astrapress
The online course was deemed unusable in practice. — fontanka
The university's leadership may have misappropriated 18 million rubles. — fontanka
The contract was allegedly inflated in cost. — vedomosti
In October 2022, the university was investigated for issuing 800 fake documents to avoid mobilization. — tg_astrapress
In December 2022, students created comics glorifying military actions in Ukraine. — tg_astrapress
Former Education Minister Dmitry Livanov called 'Sinergetika's' activities a 'mass deception of people.' — tg_astrapress