Seizure of Elena Skrynnik's accounts: we are talking about $140 million

Biography

Elena Borisovna Skrynnik today is a prominent statesman and mother, but she, like other citizens of the USSR, began her career from a small place. Over the years of her career, Elena Borisovna worked as a laboratory assistant, a cardiologist, and after 2000 she began working in the field of agriculture, becoming the first female minister in this area.

Elena Borisovna Novitskaya (maiden name) comes from a wealthy family, judging by those times. She was born in the city of Korkino (Chelyabinsk region) on August 30, 1961. His father worked as a mining engineer, and his mother held a senior position as chief engineer at a local plant. Judging by her maiden name, Elena has Polish roots, but there is no information about the nationality of the ex-Minister of Agriculture.

Statesman Elena Skrynnik

Elena Skrynnik has a younger brother, Leonid Novitsky, a racing driver, two-time winner of the FIA ​​World Cup in cross-country rallies, and winner of the best results among Russian racing drivers in the Dakar. Elena’s cousin Igor Khristenko also went into politics and served as Minister of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation. His wife is the former head of the Accounts Chamber, current Deputy Prime Minister Tatyana Golikova.

According to Skrynnik, her parents were too busy with work, so her upbringing rested entirely on the shoulders of her grandparents. When the time came, young Elena entered school No. 2 in the city of Korkino in the girls' class. Teachers remembered her as a diligent and efficient girl, who was distinguished by her silence and modesty.

Elena Skrynnik and Leonid Novitsky

Elena Borisovna graduated from school without C grades, and practically without B grades, of which there were several on her certificate. At that time, the girl was already interested in sports, preferring skiing and basketball. By the way, these hobbies were not in vain; modern photos show that Elena Borisovna has a stately figure and is tall (175 cm).

After graduating from school, Elena decided not to go to university right away, probably wanting to choose a profession that she liked. For 2 years, yesterday's graduate worked diligently at a forging and stamping plant in her hometown, holding the position of a laboratory assistant.

Links[ | ]

• Official website of Elena Skrynnik
• International Independent Institute of Agricultural Policy
• Skrynnik, Elena - article in Lentapedia. year 2012.
• Peskov: Skrynnik is not Putin’s assistant - Grani.ru, 11/28/2012
• Ex-Minister Skrynnik is outraged by the “slander”
• Stringer: Madame LEASING
• “Russia's Power Families-2011” / Skrynnik Elena Borisovna (English)

Career

In 1981, Elena entered the Chelyabinsk medical university on a referral from the enterprise where she worked. After 5 years of training as a cardiologist, Elena began work, and after 2 years she became the head physician of the hospital at the Chelyabinsk plant.

Politician Elena Skrynnik

Already in the early 90s, Elena Borisovna received a diploma in the specialization “personnel management” at the Academy of National Economy of the Russian Federation. After receiving her diploma, Skrynnik completed an internship abroad - in France and Germany, improving her skills in leasing matters.

This area was still unknown in Russia at that time, so upon arrival in Russia Elena began to develop this area. First there was, then cooperation with the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation on the purchase of medical equipment under leasing for Russian hospital complexes.

Vladimir Putin and Elena Skrynnik

It is worth noting that Skrynnik was the first to introduce the practice of leasing in Russia, opening up new modern dimensions for public medicine. After only 3 years, Elena Borisovna moved even closer to the management corps, because she was elected head of the Russian Association of Leasing Companies (1997). A year later, she assumed the position of chairman of the Expert Council on Leasing.

Less than 2 years have passed since Elena took a new step up the career ladder, taking the post of General Director of Rosagroleasing OJSC. Already in 2009, there was another career leap and the position of Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation. Some media reported that Skrynnik is a close friend of Svetlana Medvedeva, which influenced the development of Elena Borisovna’s career during the presidency of Dmitry Medvedev. During her work as minister, she received a PhD in Economics.

Dmitry Medved and Elena Skrynnik

In 2012, she lost her position and then went abroad for treatment. There were rumors that Skrynnik had moved abroad for permanent residence, but Elena Borisovna herself dispelled them on the air of one of the NTV channel programs.

Biography[ | ]

She was born into a family of local production managers: her father is a mining engineer, her mother is the chief engineer of the plant. Cousin of Viktor Khristenko[10]. At school I studied in an exclusive girls' class[3].

After school, she worked for two years as a laboratory assistant at the Korkinsky Forging and Stamping Plant, after which she entered the Chelyabinsk Medical Institute through the workers' faculty[3].

In 1981-1986. — studied at the medical institute in Chelyabinsk. His medical specialty is cardiologist[11].

In 1986 she graduated from the Chelyabinsk Medical Institute, in 1992 from the Academy of National Economy under the Government of the Russian Federation with a degree in management personnel.

Since 1986, she worked as a cardiologist, therapist at the student clinic in Chelyabinsk, then as deputy chief physician of the hospital of the Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant[5].

In 1992 she received a diploma from the Academy of National Economy under the Government of the Russian Federation. She completed an internship in Germany and France, specializing in leasing technologies.

In 1994, she founded the Interregional Medical Leasing Company. As the head of this company, she collaborated with the Ministry of Health under Minister Yuri Shevchenko in the field of purchasing foreign medical equipment[12].

Skrynnik is considered the initiator of the creation of the leasing industry in Russia; she was at the forefront of the introduction and development of this financial institution. Since 1997, he has been Chairman of the Council of the Russian Leasing Association.

Since 1997 - head of the Russian Association of Leasing Companies.

Since 1998 - Chairman of the Expert Council on Leasing of the Federation Council.

Since 2000 - member of the board of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs.

In December 2001, Skrynnik was appointed General Director of the state agro-industrial leasing company [13]. According to the contract, she retained the right to simultaneously run her own business[14].

From 2001 to April 2009 - General Director of OJSC Rosagroleasing.[12][13][14][15].

According to the Kommersant publication, Rosagroleasing under the leadership of Skrynnik had a significantly higher turnover and greater transparency of operations compared to the same indicators under Valery Nazarov[6]. One of the largest regional operators, Rosagroleasing, reported: “if in 2008 his company supplied “about three thousand” combine harvesters under leasing in a year, then in 2012 “the number was in the tens[6].” In 2012, the Accounts Chamber noted “the lack of data and information at OJSC Rosagroleasing on the total volumes of agricultural machinery, equipment and breeding animals purchased and leased,” due to which “it is not possible to assess the activities of the leasing company in 2010.” Skrynnik noted that the register of equipment existed under her leadership and was available online[6].

With Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in the Rostov region, 2010

On November 15, 2005, by Decree of the President of the Russian Federation, Skrynnik was awarded the medal of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree - with the wording for the achieved labor successes and many years of conscientious work

[16].

In November 2008, she was elected to the Supreme Council of the All-Russian political party "United Russia".

From March 12, 2009 to May 21, 2012 - Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation[15].

In the fall of 2012, Skrynnik spent some time in France, where she underwent treatment in a home hospital[17]. On December 2, 2012, she appeared on the NTV channel “Central Television”, stating that, contrary to information about her move, she went abroad for a short time, after which she returned to Russia[18].

Minister of Agriculture[ | ]

From March 12, 2009 to May 21, 2012 - Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation[15]. Her appointment was greeted with optimism in government circles. Skrynnik’s activities in the agricultural industry were highly appreciated by the Chairman of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, Boris Gryzlov: “Elena Skrynnik... made a great contribution to the development of mechanisms for supporting agriculture. During regional trips, I often visit agricultural enterprises... and I know how in demand leasing programs are for agricultural production”[19].

In May 2009, at the start of field work, Skrynnik formed a state-owned company to supply fuel and lubricants to the village at preferential prices[20]. Subsequently, the Ministry of Agriculture, under the leadership of Skrynnik, created a system for uninterrupted provision of rural equipment with preferential fuels and lubricants[21]. In 2011, the Russian government decided to abandon the purchase of imported sugar, since over the previous two years, the country began to produce a sufficient amount of sugar beets[22]. In the same year, Russia began to export sugar for the first time in history[23][24].

Under Skrynnik, Russia began to provide itself with the main categories of agricultural products. To control pricing, the Ministry of Agriculture began active cooperation with the Federal Antimonopoly Service[25]. On January 1, 2010, an order of the chief state sanitary doctor came into force in Russia, which prohibits the sale to the population of chicken meat, in the production of which chlorine compounds in high concentrations are used for disinfection[26]. According to a number of experts, Skrynnik was one of the initiators of this ban[27]. In 2010, Skrynnik began to pursue a policy of import substitution, within the framework of which she began to reduce imports of poultry meat to Russia and increase the export of Russian meat[28]. To support Russian milk producers, Skrynnik banned the import of powdered milk from Belarus into Russia[29].

In 2010, during the drought, Skrynnik achieved an increase in lending for 2011 in order to restore agricultural production[30][31]. In August 2010, after the drought, the Ministry of Agriculture resumed the work of the Federal Commission for the Financial Recovery of Agricultural Producers in order to restructure the debts of agricultural companies. The task of the commission was to prevent bankruptcies in the industry due to drought[32]. In 2011, during the locust invasion of most of the regions of Russia, Skrynnik supported the initiative to create special mobile units that are still successfully fighting pests[33].

On May 21, 2012, she left the post of Minister of Agriculture due to a change in the composition of the Cabinet of Ministers.

Personal life

Elena entered into her first marriage with Sergei Skrynnik during her student years, taking his last name. The couple's life together lasted 6 years, after which the young people divorced peacefully. In this marriage, Elena gave birth to their first child, but her daughter died in 2003 in a car accident. The girl was only 21 years old. Later, Sergei Skrynnik took over the post of head of the government procurement department of the State Administration of Material Resources of the Chelyabinsk Region.

Elena Skrynnik with her first husband

After the first divorce, Elena Borisovna did not tie the knot for a long time, but in 2004 she entered into an alliance with Yuri Kukota. The marriage lasted 3 years; in 2005, Elena gave birth to twins Irina and Mikhail, but the union was dissolved with scandal.

Yuri Kukota, already Skrynnik’s ex-husband, claimed that Elena threatened him. Allegedly, the reason for the threats was children, and the entire action was aimed at getting the ex-husband to renounce all claims to the twins born in the marriage. Elena Skrynnik did not confirm the words of her ex-husband, and due to the lack of evidence, a criminal case on this issue was not opened.

Elena Skrynnik and Yuri Kukota

Skrynnik’s third husband was the lead singer of one of the many singing groups, Dmitry Belonosov, who is 10 years younger than Elena. The finale of the relationship with Elena’s third husband was kept secret, but in 2010 Dmitry announced the divorce; rumors arose that he had left for a young girl, the administrator of one central TV channel. But be that as it may, in this marriage Elena again became a mother. According to one information, she gave birth to twins, according to another, she adopted two children.

Dmitry Belonosov and Elena Skrynnik

For several years now, Elena and her children have been living in a luxurious villa, comfortably located in France. It is worth noting that after 2012, information about the activities of the ex-minister is scant, which is directly related to the scandal that unfolded after Skrynnik left her post.

Elena Skrynnik with children

Elena Borisovna remains one of the most attractive and elegant lady ministers. She devotes a lot of time to caring for herself (according to rumors, she is the owner of a beauty clinic, according to others - a plastic clinic), and after the birth of children she did not lose shape. Elena is fond of active sports, preferring boating, snowmobiling and skiing. The ex-minister does not advertise the details of his current personal life, but Elena has changed a lot in appearance. She has become younger, slimmer and looks happy, as can be judged by numerous photos and videos of the ex-minister in the media.

Notes[ | ]

1. Former head of the Ministry of Agriculture Elena Skrynnik remains a member of United Russia
2. United Russia party website
3. ↑ 123
   Journalists studied the biography of Elena Skrynnik: “Even at school she knew how to make profitable deals” - news on URA.ru
4. Doctor of Medical Sciences Elena Skrynnik became the Minister of Agriculture - CAREER AND BUSINESS - Money - Arguments and Facts (unspecified)
   . Retrieved February 2, 2013. Archived February 12, 2013.
5. ↑ 1 2
   Kommersant-Power - Skrynnik Elena Borisovna
   (unspecified)
   . Retrieved February 2, 2013. Archived February 12, 2013.
6. ↑ 12345
   Elena Skrynnik cried during an interview (video) - Metro
7. ↑ 12
   Elena Skrynnik won the right to be forgotten in court
8. Interfax, June 29, 2020. Skrynnik called for diversifying exports to Turkey through flour
9. International Independent Institute of Agricultural Policy
10. Website “For Science” Corruption schemes of the Government of the Russian Federation: Golikova & K.
11. ↑ 123
    VEDOMOSTI - Vedomosti investigation: business interests of Elena Skrynnik
12. ↑ 12
    Madame LEASING | Stringer - news agency
13. ↑ 12
    Profile Skrynnik E.B. Who is who in business Petersburg.
14. ↑ 12345
    Elena Skrynnik: “Talking about my theft of 39 billion rubles is slander!”
15. ↑ 123
    Edges. Ru: Deputy head of the Ministry of Agriculture Chernogorov dismissed | Politics / Russia / Government
16. ↑ 12
    Decree of the President of the Russian Federation of November 15, 2005 No. 1342 “On awarding state awards of the Russian Federation”
17. Elena Skrynnik refused to appear for questioning in the Rosagroleasing case
18. Central television. Issue dated December 2, 2012
19. Gryzlov called the new Minister of Agriculture an experienced manager
20. A state company has been created in Russia to supply fuel and lubricants to rural areas
21. The Ministry of Agriculture fills tanks for future use
22. The Russian Federation will refuse to import raw sugar in 2011
23. Sugar beet production is investment attractive - Elena Skrynnik
24. Russia can export up to 200 thousand tons of sugar
25. FAS will monitor vegetable prices
26. Import of American chicken and turkey products is prohibited
27. ↑ 12
    Skrynnik Elena. Facts and only facts. Issue dated 02/18/2016
28. Ministry of Agriculture insists on reducing imports of poultry meat
29. Belarusian milk was removed for being harmful
30. The White House will drive a spring wedge into the drought
31. Drought doesn't fit into budget
32. Intensive care will save drought victims
33. Skrynnik supported the creation of a mobile locust control squad in Russia - Gazeta. Ru | News
34. Rinat Sagdiev: “Vedomosti investigation: business interests of Elena Skrynnik
    . "Vedomosti", 11/28/2012
35. “Power of Semey-2011. Government" / Skrynnik Elena Borisovna
36. Rosbusinessconsulting, November 30, 2012. Swiss prosecutors will check whether Skrynnik owns an elite clinic in Montreux. Saved copy (unspecified)
    (inaccessible link). Retrieved November 30, 2012. Archived December 2, 2012.
37. Swiss prosecutors will check whether Skrynnik owns an elite clinic in Montreux - RBC daily - Articles
38. ↑ 12
    Elena Skrynnik burst into tears during an interview :: Politics :: Top.rbc.ru
39. The Swiss prosecutor's office did not confirm the arrest of Skrynnik's accounts
40. NEWSru.com, November 30, 2012. In the “Skrynnik case,” documents about dubious transactions and elite business in Switzerland surfaced
41. Nezavisimaya Gazeta, December 3, 2012. Elena Skrynnik played all-in
42. ↑ 1 2
    The Ministry of Internal Affairs commented on the maturing revelation of ex-minister Skrynnik, whose ex-husband has already been imprisoned
    (unspecified)
    . NEWSru (November 27, 2012). Retrieved February 25, 2013. Archived February 27, 2013.
43. Elena Skrynnik intends to sue the media over allegations of embezzlement
44. VGTRK: the author of the film “Those That Have Power” is ready to prove the authenticity of every fact
45. Central television. Issue dated December 2, 2012
46. Skrynnik is thinking about lawsuits :: Politics :: Interfax.ru (unspecified)
    . Retrieved August 15, 2013. Archived August 15, 2013.
47. The ex-head of the Ministry of Agriculture will sue the media for publications about Rosagroleasing | Forbes.ru
48. Elena Skrynnik is preparing to sue a number of media outlets - Newspaper Trud
49. Lawyers of Elena Skrynnik are preparing lawsuits against the media for articles about theft at Rosagroleasing
50. Elena Skrynnik may file lawsuits against a number of media outlets and individuals over publications related to Rosagroleasing / Politics / Nezavisimaya Gazeta
51. E. Skrynnik intends to sue A. Mamontov’s program :: Politics :: Top.rbc.ru
52. The dismantling of Medvedev's group is becoming irreversible: News: The day before. RU
53. The ban on foreign accounts for officials did not become a reason for loud revelations - Gazeta. Ru | From the editor
54. “Medvedev was initially unlucky…”
55. The Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation will deal with sensational matters in 2013 / Government - PRIME (undefined)
    . Retrieved February 13, 2013. Archived February 15, 2013.
56. Rosagroleasing risks its assets
57. order 246/nc dated March 17, 2015 (unspecified)
    .
58. Rossiyskaya Gazeta: Former Minister Elena Skrynnik deprived of her Doctor of Science degree https://vak.ed.gov.ru/documents/10179/2275023/246-nk.pdf/85b16465-c6fa-4deb-84ae-5ccd174fba35
59. Elena Skrynnik was interrogated for five hours :: Politics :: Top.rbc.ru (unspecified)
    . Retrieved February 16, 2013. Archived February 27, 2013.
60. Kommersant-Vlast - Resignations and appointments
61. "Rosagroleasing" connected with "OZK" - Interfax
62. Ministry of Internal Affairs: Ex-Minister E. Skrynnik can be interrogated, but as a witness :: Society :: Top.rbc.ru
63. Kommersant-Gazeta – Operation “Cleansing Hands”
64. Rosagroleasing presented the grain king with a debt of 580 million rubles - Izvestia
65. Elena Skrynnik refused to appear for questioning in the Rosagroleasing case
66. ↑ 123
    Nezavisimaya Gazeta, November 30, 2012. Elena Skrynnik swore off prison and money
67. Sergei Ivanov: the Swiss prosecutor's office has no complaints against ex-minister Skrynnik
68. Switzerland stopped the investigation against the former head of the Ministry of Agriculture Skrynnik (unspecified)
    (August 5, 2017). Retrieved February 16, 2013.
69. Blick
    . Geldwäscherei: Schweiz stellt Geldwäscherei-Verfahren gegen Putin-Vertraute ein (German). Retrieved August 25, 2020.
70. Elena Skrynnik sued the right to remove dubious links from Yandex
71. The ex-husband of ex-minister Skrynnik was sentenced to seven years for bribery (unspecified)
    . NEWSru (July 27, 2012). Retrieved February 25, 2013. Archived February 27, 2013.
72. Skrynnik, Elena. Former Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation
73. Elena Skrynnik found the happiness of motherhood in court.
74. Minister of Agriculture Elena Skrynnik is accused of “threatening to kill” her ex-husband (unspecified)
    . NEWSru (June 5, 2009). Retrieved February 25, 2013. Archived February 27, 2013.
75. ↑ 12
    Movement for the revival of domestic science - V. I. Boyarintsev. Minister's family contract
76. Starhit, January 16, 2013. For the first time, Elena Skrynnik's ex-husband spoke about marriage and love with the minister
77. Revolvers - agent's official website, organization of concerts, tours, booking, ordering a concert, artist
78. News – Ruspres
79. The mystery of the divorce of ex-minister Elena Skrynnik, Express Newspaper, No. 50 (931), 2012
80. “KP”, March 2, 2020. The right choice with Elena Skrynnik: What products are worth buying in Russian stores?
81. The case of Elena Skrynnik and other high-profile corruption scandals.
82. Elena Skrynnik found the happiness of motherhood in court. On August 16, Skrynnik’s lawyers turned to the Perovsky registry office with a request to register the babies.
83. Elena Skrynnik: “For now I’m busy with children, myself, scientific work and leasing”
84. ↑ 12
    Lenta.ru Skrynnik, Elena, former Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation
85. Order “On awarding the honorary sports title “Honored Master of Sports of Russia” dated January 18, 2012 No. 7-ng
86. Mini week: remembering the brightest Mini cars - Auto. News
87. Official website of the Russian Academy of Business and Entrepreneurship

Scandals and criticism

Criticism poured into Elena Borisovna after the changes in power that came in 2012. The accusations were based on the fact that money allocated from the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation was spent for other purposes.

Former Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation Elena Skrynnik

Although Skrynnik denied the accusations against her, the story received loud publicity, and suggestions were made that a luxurious mansion in an elite area of ​​Moscow was purchased with the allocated funds. Even at the time when Elena held the post of general director of Rosagroleasing, she was already accused of money laundering, so the press happily picked up the news.

The matter did not end there, and a few weeks later, at the end of November 2013, the film “The Powers That Be” was released. It alleged that during Skrynnik’s work as minister, 39 billion rubles were stolen. During the investigation, deputy ministers were detained, but the former chief of staff of Skrynnik, Oleg Donskikh, fled abroad.

Elena Skrynnik and Viktor Zubkov

According to many experts, the action launched against Skrynnik was nothing more than a struggle between the elites, which was presented to the public under the guise of fighting corruption. Also, compromising information was attributed to the conflict between Skrynnik and Zubkov. As a result of the scandal in 2014, Elena was deprived of her Ph.D. degree.

In 2020, in one of the TV programs, the idea was voiced that the aggressive accusations against Skrynnik were ordered. Throughout this time, Elena zealously defended her innocence and disputed all the accusations addressed to her by journalists and colleagues.

Elena Skrynnik

However, after the attacks began, Elena began to live abroad, which the United Russia party does not hide. And even more: the personality of the ex-minister became interested in the Swiss services, which in 2015 were concerned about the receipt of more than $100 million in Elena’s accounts. In this case, $60 million was seized, but the former Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation continued to deny this, claiming that does not have bank accounts in Switzerland. Later, Skrynnik managed to confirm that she was right, and the prosecutor’s office of a European country dropped the charges against her.

Criticism[ | ]

In November 2012, after the change of the Russian government in May 2012, a text version of excerpts from a planned documentary investigation into Skrynnik’s activities was published on the VGTRK website. The VGTRK film tells that during the period Skrynnik headed the Ministry of Agriculture of the Russian Federation, money was allocated from the department’s budget to improve the living conditions of employees, but in fact the funds were spent on the purchase of mansions on Rublevskoye Shosse[42]. Skrynnik, who was on maternity leave at that time, denied this information, citing a report from the Accounts Chamber, according to which the debt of lessees at the end of 2008 amounted to 1 billion rubles, and not 39 billion rubles, as the media claimed. The auditors of the Accounts Chamber did not find any corruption component[14]. In an interview with TASS, Skrynnik announced her intention to sue journalists[43].

On November 27, 2012, the investigative documentary film “Those That Have Power” was shown on the Russia-1 TV channel. It contained accusations that with Skrynnik’s participation, 39 billion rubles disappeared from the state budget. The journalistic investigation alleged that billions allocated by the state, but not received by farmers, ended up in the accounts of the British company, where Skrynnik was allegedly the founder, as well as in the accounts of the company, the founder of which was her brother Leonid Novitsky[44]. Five days after the release of the film, in an interview with the NTV channel, Skrynnik stated that she did not intend to hide from attacks on her and would respond to every accusation against her, as she was confident of her own innocence[45][46]. Skrynnik objected that the campaign launched against her was aimed at diverting attention from the effectiveness of the current management of Rosagroleasing, in particular, from problems associated with providing agricultural producers with equipment[47][48][49][50][51] .

According to some analysts, the investigation into Skrynnik’s activities is explained by an intra-elite struggle presented under the guise of fighting corruption[52][53][54]. Skrynnik, while heading a state-owned company, was not an official and did not belong to the category of civil servants, so she did not commit any violations, says FBK partner Igor Nikolaev[11]. Experts do not rule out that Skrynnik’s problems could arise due to disagreements with Viktor Zubkov. Skrynnik could have had administrative friction with the first deputy prime minister in charge of agriculture, since he was interested in ensuring that all issues of agricultural policy were focused on him personally. “In any case, Zubkov should have reacted harshly to violations at Rosagroleasing,” says Evgeniy Minchenko from the Institute of Political Expertise. First of all, according to the expert, to get himself out of harm’s way, since he headed the board of directors of this company”[11].

In January 2013, Chairman of the Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation Sergei Stepashin announced that the activities of Rosagroleasing under Skrynnik and over the past 10 years will be analyzed for possible deliberate bankruptcy with a view to subsequent privatization of the corporation into private hands[55]. Skrynnik supported the decision to audit the Accounts Chamber of all activities of Rosagroleasing for ten years and postpone the privatization deadline. As far as I know, the Swiss Prosecutor General's Office has no complaints specifically against Elena Skrynnik. There are claims, and significant ones, regarding her deputy Alexey Bazhanov, who previously worked at Rosagroleasing[67].

In August 2020, it became known that the Swiss prosecutor’s office’s investigation into money laundering against Skrynnik had been discontinued. According to the Swiss newspaper Blick

, the seizure of Skrynnik’s bank accounts, where about 70 million Swiss francs are located, has been lifted. The publication believes that the investigation was terminated due to lack of cooperation on the part of Russia[68][69].

At the same time, Skrynnik, after a lengthy correspondence with the Internet aggregator Yandex, which refused to remove links to false information about the progress of the investigation from search queries, obtained the right to be forgotten through the court[7]. The Odintsovo City Court, where Skrynnik appealed, granted her request and ordered the search engine to “stop issuing links that allow access to false information on the Internet regarding the Minister of Agriculture 2009-2012.” Elena Skrynnik"[70].

Elena Skrynnik now

In 2020, the Alexei Navalny Foundation presented an investigative documentary about the activities of Elena Skrynnik, which assessed her actions as Minister of Agriculture. But already in the fall, Ms. Skrynnik filed a lawsuit for the right to be forgotten, which solved the problem of removing reputation-defaming information about the facts of her biography from the Internet. Skrynnik managed to prove his case, and the court granted the claim.

Former Minister of Agriculture of the Russian Federation Elena Skrynnik

Now Elena Borisovna is returning to the political arena. Having organized the International Institute of Agrarian Policy, Skrynnik set about creating a program for the development of agriculture in Russia until 2050. The politician collaborates with the publication Komsomolskaya Pravda, where he is an expert in the agricultural field. Elena Skrynnik has a personal website dedicated to her professional activities; Elena Borisovna also maintains personal accounts on Facebook and Twitter, but she does not have a profile on Instagram.

In 2020, through the efforts of Elena Skrynnik, a competition for beginning farmers “Summer Vacation in a Russian Village” was organized. More than 300 applications from 53 regions of the Russian Federation were received to participate in the event. The competition has been extended to 2020. The results of the event showed that agricultural tourism is a promising direction in the development of agriculture. According to Skrynnik’s calculations, revenues from the industry could reach up to 50 billion rubles. in year.

Awards[ | ]

• Order of Friendship (Russia) - for active participation in the work on the formation of the regulatory framework of the Common Economic Space
• Medal of the Order of Merit for the Fatherland, II degree (November 15, 2005) - for achieved labor success and many years of conscientious work
  [16]
• Gratitude from the President of the Russian Federation.
• Certificate of Honor from the Government of the Russian Federation - for his great contribution to the development of the domestic agro-industrial complex and many years of conscientious work
• Golden.
• Order of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Princess Olga, III degree (ROC)
• Order of the Holy Martyr Tryphon, III degree (ROC)
• Laureate of the National Award for Public Recognition of Women's Achievements "Olympia" of the Russian Academy of Business and Entrepreneurship[87] in 2002.