World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Russian officials detained in investigation of Synergy University contracts
Russian authorities detained two officials in a fraud investigation involving government contracts with Synergy University.
They are Denis Ashirov, deputy head of the federal youth agency Rosmolodezh, and Mikhail Yerofeyev, a Synergy vice-rector.
Investigators are examining a 31.5 million-ruble contract signed in 2023 to create an online professional development course.
They allege subcontractors did most of the work for no more than 13.5 million rubles, while Synergy received full payment; investigators suspect the remaining 18 million rubles may have been stolen or misused.
The courses were reportedly unusable in practice, but Synergy says its programs worked and that more than 50,000 people completed training.
The university says it is cooperating and operating as usual, and says no specific employees have been charged.
The investigation is ongoing, and the sources do not say what happens next.
Russian authorities detained Rosmolodyozh deputy head Denis Ashirov in a fraud investigation involving state contracts with Synergy University.
Synergy vice rector Mikhail Yerofeyev was also detained, according to reports cited by the articles.
The investigation concerns two contracts signed in 2023 and 2024, worth 40.5 million rubles combined, according to RBC.
Investigators allege that funds were stolen and that courses produced under one contract were unusable in practice.
Synergy says it fulfilled its obligations on time and that its programs worked; it said no employees had been charged.
- Who
- Rosmolodyozh deputy head Denis Ashirov and Synergy vice rector Mikhail Yerofeyev were detained, according to reports.
- What
- They were detained in a fraud investigation involving government contracts with Synergy University.
- When
- Friday, November 13, according to the articles.
- Where
- Moscow. Authorities also searched Synergy University.
- Why
- Investigators are examining alleged fraud involving state contracts and the university’s work. They allege funds may have been stolen; Synergy says it fulfilled the contracts.
Investigators
Synergy University
Contract work and funds
Investigators
Investigators allege subcontractors did most of the work under a 31.5 million-ruble contract and that the remaining 18 million rubles may have been stolen or embezzled.
Synergy University
Synergy says it fulfilled its obligations under both contracts in full and on time, and that the work passed expert review and was accepted.
Course results
Investigators
Investigators reportedly found that the resulting courses were unusable in practice.
Synergy University
Synergy says its programs worked and that more than 50,000 people completed training.
Synergy received a 31.5 million-ruble government contract, according to Kommersant.
Rosmolodyozh signed two contracts with Synergy, worth 40.5 million rubles combined, according to RBC.
Authorities detained Ashirov and, during raids, Yerofeyev, according to reports cited by the articles.
- Denis Ashirov
- Deputy head of Rosmolodyozh
- Mikhail Yerofeyev
- Synergy vice rector for regional development
- Combined contract value
- 40.5 million rubles
- Contract years
- 2023 and 2024
- Contract under investigation
- 31.5 million rubles
- Alleged remaining funds
- 18 million rubles
3 sources
What people are saying
The university fulfilled obligations under both contracts in full and within the established deadlines
The work results passed the customer’s expert review and were accepted, with completion certificates signed by authorized officials