MOSCOW, May 15 (RAPSI) - Former Skolkovo vice president Alexei Beltyukov is likely to be the first person charged in connection with the $750,000 embezzlement scandal at the foundation, Izvestia daily reported on Wednesday.

An internal audit at Skolkovo revealed that Beltyukov signed a contract with State Duma lawmaker Ilya Ponomaryov from A Just Russia for a series of lectures and research projects. This enabled Beltyukov to syphon off a large sum of the foundation's money.

Earlier, Deputy Economic Development Minister Pavel Korolyov was questioned in regard to this case. An agreement was first signed between Korolyov and Ponomaryov in 2010, when Korolyov held the post of chief of Skolkovo's staff. Further agreements were later signed between Ponomaryov and Beltyukov.

A high-ranking Skolkovo source told Izvestia that the foundation's management ordered an internal audit in summer 2012. The auditors uncovered violations in the foundation's dealings with Ponomaryov long before the Audit Chamber launched its investigation and opened a criminal case. An order was issued to correct the agreements.

A criminal case was opened against Beltyukov on April 19, 2013, and on May 7 he was dismissed from his post.

According to the Investigative Committee, Beltyukov paid Ponomaryov $750,000 of the foundation's money without sanction between February 2011 and February 2012 for lectures and research projects. An investigation was launched into Beltyukov's actions to analyze the subject, the content and the academic value of the lectures which Ponomaryov was contracted to provide for $300,000.

On May 14, Beltyukov was again questioned by the Investigative Committee. "He has not been named as a suspect at this stage, as charges have not been brought against him," an Investigative Committee spokesperson told Izvestia.

However, according to the newspaper, there is enough evidence, including the internal audit results, to enable the authorities to charge him.
Ponomaryov is currently named as a witness to the case.

On April 26, Skolkovo filed a lawsuit against Ponomaryov with the Gagarinsky District Court in Moscow to reclaim the money paid to him, and to collect damages, if evidence is found that his services were inadequate for the fee provided.

Ponomaryov earlier claimed that he had done more work for the foundation than the reports show. The court plans to hear the lawsuit against him on May 20.

The Skolkovo Foundation, set up in 2010 by then President Dmitry Medvedev, is the primary agency for the Skolkovo high-tech development hub, which includes a business center, a science and technology institute and a management school. The project is intended to showcase the drive to diversify and modernize the Russian economy.

Renova Group president Viktor Vekselberg is one of the foundation's prime investors.