A criminal case regarding abuse of power within the Regional Center for the Development of Children and Youth Creativity in Novosibirsk has commenced in the Central District Court. The case centers around allegations that a manager mishandled a substantial subsidy, purportedly prioritizing personal career advancement over the institution’s benefit.

According to the investigation, Vasily Ledovsky, who was responsible for public procurement at the center, is accused of exceeding his authority. The investigation indicates that Ledovsky aimed to quickly utilize an 842.5 million ruble subsidy allocated to the center.

Between May 15, 2023, and May 2, 2024, Ledovsky allegedly colluded with a businesswoman and three affiliated legal entities to inflate commercial proposals. Investigators claim these proposals were priced significantly above market value, by at least 38.5 million rubles. He then allegedly prepared documents for purchases from these entities as sole suppliers.

The investigation revealed that despite the inflated prices, the equipment was never delivered to the center. Ledovsky is accused of providing the center with falsified acceptance certificates for equipment that was never supplied.

These actions allegedly facilitated the transfer of funds to the accounts of the three legal entities, enabling Ledovsky to rapidly utilize the subsidy. The investigation estimates the total damages to be over 291 million rubles. Ledovsky faces charges of abuse of official authority, resulting in significant violation of the organization’s rights and the interests of society. While accused of mismanaging the subsidy, he is not accused of intending to steal the money.

Vasily Ledovsky’s lawyer, Valery Molodtsov, stated that his client is not yet prepared to comment on the case.