Russia detains federal youth agency official and Synergy private university vice-rector over allegedly unusable online courses
Authorities searched Synergy University as part of a theft investigation and detained Vice Rector Mikhail Yerofeyev, REN TV and TASS reported.
Russian authorities have detained Denis Ashirov, a deputy head of the federal youth agency Rosmolodezh, and Mikhail Yerofeyev, vice rector of Synergy private university, in connection with an alleged fraud investigation involving online courses. The investigation centers on a government contract worth 31.5 million rubles that Synergy received in 2023.
According to prosecutors, most of the work for the online professional development course was allegedly done by subcontractors for just 13.5 million rubles, while the university received full payment for the work completed. The university's management is suspected of stealing or embezzling the remaining 18 million rubles. Additionally, the courses created by Synergy were deemed unusable in practice.
Synergy maintains that the work was completed on time and that the programs were effective, stating that over 50,000 people completed the training and more than 36,000 received professional development certificates. The university added that it was operating normally and cooperating with investigators, but did not comment on Ashirov's detention.
Synergy University, founded in 1995, is one of Russia's largest private universities and has received state accreditation.
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