Andrei Skoch: the career of a politician and a philanthropist

A deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation and a philanthropist, Andrei Vladimirovich Skoch was born in the Moscow region in 1966. After school, he became a student of the psychological department at the Moscow State Open Pedagogical University, and after graduation he went into business.

A.V. Skoch started his business career by selling computer details. Later, together with his partner Lev Kvetnoi, he engaged in the sale of petroleum products, in particular the processing of raw materials and the sale of fuel through their own petrol stations. They invested the accumulated funds in the company «Interfin». By the beginning of the noughties, the portfolio of the investment fund was replenished with shares of several large-scale industrial enterprises, such as the Oskol Electrometallurgical plant and the Lebedinsky GOKt.

Andrei Skoch ‘s political career

In 1999, A.V. Skoch was nominated for the deputy’s post of the State Duma of the Russian Federation of the III convocation. Subsequently, he won almost 55% of votes– this is how his political career began.

Andrei Skoch’s assets were transferred to his father Vladimir Skoch, who at that time had extensive experience in industry.

Over the past 20 years, Andrei Vladimirovich Skoch has authored and co-authored more than 160 legislative initiatives. In particular, A.V. Skoch supported the extension of the “dacha amnesty”, which allows owners of summer cottages, houses, garages and other real estate to register property according to a simplified scheme. He also participated in the creation of important drafts in the field of education. Thus, Andrei Skoch co-authored amendments to the Article 69 of the Federal Education Law, which established the minimum level of higher education required to obtain a second and the following. With his support, adjustments to the article 47 of the same Federal Law were formed. They established a requirement to provide additional payments to teachers preparing students for state exams. In addition, Skoch Andrei Vladimirovich participated in the creation of a draft that allowed people with disabilities to receive additional secondary vocational or higher education for free.

Andrei Skoch’s charitable activity

The deputy Andrei Skoch is known not only as a politician, but also as a public figure. While he was an entrepreneur, he founded the humanitarian fund “Pokolenie” (“the Generation”). The organization was initially aimed at helping children with heart disease or other cardiac diseases, but over time it began to help adults, as well as various medical, educational, cultural and other institutions. The Foundation annually purchases technical equipment and medicines for Russian hospitals. In particular, it allocated funds for the opening of neuroorthopedic, medical and ophthalmological centers in Belgorod and Stary Oskol and provided them with high-quality equipment from foreign countries. In addition, 29 paramedic and obstetric stations were opened in rural settlements of several districts of the Belgorod region in the period from 2015 to 2019. Over 125 million rubles were allocated for their creation.

In the same region, “Pokolenie” (“Generation”) supports students who succeed in their studies and actively participate in university life. The most proactive of them are awarded the “Best Student of the Year” scholarship every year. It is 15 thousand rubles (I degree) or 10 thousand rubles (II degree). In 2020, about 400 people participated in the competition. 30 students were awarded – they won in 15 nominations.

The charity organization also holds other events for young people. So, it established the “Novoe Pokolenie” (the “New Generation”) camp. At its seminars and master classes, students could learn business tactics, acting skills, the basics of individual style and much more.

Andrei Vladimirovich Skoch was awarded various awards for his legislative and charitable activities, including:

the “Samara Cross” badge;
the Order of Alexander Nevsky;
the UNESCO Five Continents Medal.

The development of the Belgorod region

The “Pokolenie” ( “Generation”) Foundation provided support to doctors and volunteers of Belgorod and the region during the coronavirus pandemic. Protective equipment such as masks, gloves, goggles and suits were regularly sent to medical institutions. In just a month and a half, the organization allocated about 60 million rubles for these purposes. So, back in April, the Fund sent thousands of masks, respirators, overalls and protective glasses to regional hospitals. In addition, 7.5 thousand gloves and 10 thousand masks were provided to volunteers who delivered food, medicines and other necessities to pensioners.

In May, the coronagospital in Stary Oskol received from “ Pokolenie” (“Generation”) a ton of non-woven propylene canvas. The material was used for sewing shoe covers, masks, dressing gowns, protective suits, sheets, hats, aprons and armbands. The Fund provided a new ambulance to the Chernyansky Central district hospital. It is now used to serve patients at home, as well as to transport patients to diagnostic centers.

In 2020, the deputy of the State Duma of Russia Andrei Skoch also sent more than 2 billion rubles to the regional budget.