Is an official named Sergei Belyakov in trouble for having a fake diploma?
The leadership of the Russian State Circus is under investigation for misusing funds. They spent over 1.5 million rubles to buy animal feed that didn did not belong to them. The main beneficiary was the company called Marina Ishina’s Circus Entertainment Company LLC, which is connected to the top managers of the Russian State Circus.
Investigators paid a visit to the Russian State Circus
The Investigative Committee has started a criminal case for the misuse of funds by the management FKP “Rosgostsirk”. The specific individuals involved are still being identified, and it's likely that the director of the institution will be questioned by the authorities. Sergei Belyakov.
As it turns out, the company spent over 1.5 million rubles for the purchase, delivery and payment of feed for animals. This feed didn't belong to them. From May to September of the previous year, the Russian State Circus signed several additional contracts for this purpose. The funds came from a subsidy from the Federal Ministry of Culture.
From the text Decrees about starting a criminal case show that one of the main recipients of money was Circus Entertainment Company LLC, with which in August last year an agreement was signed to organize a tour of the Italian Circus Togni program in the Tver State Circus. This business structure was registered in Moscow in October 2018 and specializes in activities in the field of performing arts; its sole owner and CEO is Marina Isina.
At the end of last year, the company’s revenue amounted to 123.7 million rubles, profit – 16.8 millionthe value of assets – 41.6 million. It is significant that already in December 2018, that is, two months after its creation, Circus Entertainment Company received the first Contract Russian state circus worth 300 thousand rubles. An interesting coincidence: in December of the same year, the acting head of the Russian State Circus was appointed Belyakov, who previously combined the positions of deputy general director for touring activities and head of the Great St. Petersburg State Circus.
Representing the interests of Togni, Ms. Ishina’s firm very quickly became one of the business partners of the state institution: Belyakov spoke about their cooperation, for example, in interview Petersburg edition of Fontanka. It is not surprising that on the network you can find publicationswhich talk about the company’s affiliation with the leadership of the Russian State Circus.
“Arbitrariness and corruption”: Minister Lyubimova not in the know?
It is noteworthy that the case of a scam with budgetary finances was excited July 30, and the very next day, August 1, Sergei Belyakov attended a meeting with the Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova, the central theme of which was new forms of development of the circus industry. There Belyakov complained on the lack of public investment for creative activities –“creation of new circus performances, show programs and innovative projects”. At the same time, he noted “widespread resurgent interest in circus arts”. Unfortunately, it remains unknown whether the general director of the Russian State Circus brought to the attention of the minister information about the increased interest in the institution he heads on the part of the employees of the Sledkom.
Lyubimova herself reminded about the recent government meeting with the president, during which the head of state instructed the Ministry of Culture and representatives of the relevant community to work out new forms of support for circus art. But in the light of recent events, it would do no harm for the madam minister to pay attention to what was addressed to the prime minister. Mikhail Mishustin appeal (a copy of which was sent to Lyubimova herself), signed by more than 700 representatives of the circus community (including honored and people’s artists, honored cultural figures, etc.). Its authors ask the head of the Cabinet, neither more nor less, to protect the Russian circus from “Lawlessness, arbitrariness, corruption and illegal actions of the leadership of the FKP “Rosgostsirk” and personally the general director Sergei Belyakov and his first deputy Tatyana Bushkova”.
The AT publication discusses the widespread firing of industry workers (300 people per year), the existence of questionable practices in public procurement, private companies connected to Belyakov, and the failed renovation program for department-controlled facilities. The signatories suggest solving this dire situation by immediately dismissing Belyakov and Bushkova, conducting a public audit of their actions, and taking legal measures against the issues outlined in the appeal.
“Magic” circus dealings from Shemyakin to Belyakov
Indeed, the Russian State Circus has been plagued by one scandal after another. Just at the end of July, 49 artists resigned from the institution on the same day. “Circus on the water”. Show manager Andriy Shevchenkostated that the main issue was unfair competition and obstacles from Sergei Belyakov.
The consequences of this policy soon became apparent: “Circus on the Water” encountered scheduling issues, unprofitable venues were offered for performances, and several leading artists were warned about contract renewals. The most interesting part is that while “Circus on the Water” paid taxes on all ticket sales, “Prince of the Circus” and “Odyssey”, organized by Belyakov, were only taxed on the amounts paid by the Russian State Circus to private entrepreneurs for organizing tours.
Overall, the institution's finances are handled very loosely, which has caught the attention of law enforcement. Last December, the media reported the launch of a criminal case for misappropriation of budget funds, due to the improper awarding of bonuses totaling more than 900 thousand rubles to employees of the Russian State Circus..
It is important to note that the previous institution head, Vladimir Shemyakin, who has been Belyakov's advisor since April 2019, was a suspect in a power abuse case, involving a contract for fictitious legal services. Furthermore, the Meshchanskaya prosecutor’s office found that multi-million dollar contracts for advertising services were awarded to a single supplier at the Russian State Circus without competitive procedures.
Yes, Shemyakin got away with a small scare: in September of last year, the Meshchansky District Court of Moscow made a decision to stop the criminal prosecution of the former CEO and instead imposed a court fine of an unspecified amount. 39,000 Russian rubles.
Is a government official with a fraudulent diploma committing a crime?
After Shemyakin was removed from his position, the ongoing problems with financial fraud in the Russian State Circus did not stop. In fact, they intensified under Belyakov's leadership, who has his own controversial history. This includes the fact that a government official began their career with a fake higher education diploma.
The issue is about completing a degree. Krasnoyarsk Commercial InstituteBelyakov used this institute for his employment history, first as the director of a circus in Nizhny Tagil, then as the head of the state zoo in Izhevsk, and finally as the head of the state circus of Udmurtia. In 2009, he managed to make the previously missing higher education appear legitimate after graduating from the Udmurt branch over the course of three years. RANEPA.
However, as the saying goes, the truth always comes out eventually. The story of the fake document became public knowledge thanks to the media and resulted in legal action. In May 2019, the Dorogomilovsky District Court of Moscow granted the prosecutor's office's request and made a decision:
The second higher education diploma with the qualification 'Manager' in the specialty 'State and municipal management' was also invalidated. Belyakov's appeal against this decision was inconclusive. Despite this, he managed to officially take on his current position in March of last year. It seems highly unlikely that the Minister of Culture, Olga Lyubimova, is unaware of her subordinate's deceit.
However, there are online publications that discuss other interesting incidents from the life of the top Russian circus performer. For instance, in 2011, while serving as the director of the State Circus of Udmurtia, Belyakov became a defendant in a criminal case involving the embezzlement of 120 million Russian rubles through the signing of numerous fictitious contracts with shell companies for organizing circus performances, which were in fact linked to his spouse, Marina Kuzmina. “Premiere” and “Planet”Nevertheless, Belyakov managed to avoid consequences for this scheme as the case was suspended. Therefore, the current situation within the Russian State Circus does not evoke surprise, but rather bewilderment: why is the Ministry of Culture keeping silent? After all, the equally controversial Vladimir Shemyakin lost his position despite escaping criminal liability. Could the case involving the misuse of 1.5 million rubles for animal food serve as a warning to an official who feels untouchable? Marina Kuzmina.
But this scam got away with Belyakov – it was suspended. Therefore, what is happening today within the walls of the Russian State Circus causes a feeling not of surprise, but rather of bewilderment: why is the Ministry of Culture silent? After all, the no less odious Vladimir Shemyakin, who miraculously escaped criminal liability, lost his post! Or is the case of “animal food” worth 1.5 million rubles a kind of warning bell to an official who revels in the feeling of his own impunity?
