A court in Vladivostok, within the Sovetsky district, handed down a suspended sentence to Alexander Shcherbatyuk, the former director of the Institute of Marine Technologies at the Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The ruling imposed a 2.5-year suspended sentence for abusing a contract to develop an underwater vehicle. Additionally, Shcherbatyuk was barred from holding leadership positions for an equivalent period. The decision was reported by TASS via the press service of the unified judicial system of Primorye.
Prosecutors had sought three years in a penal colony, arguing that Shcherbatyuk used his official powers against the interests of the service, in violation of Part 1 of Article 285 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation.
Shcherbatyuk was apprehended in November 2020.
The investigation found that from October 2016 to July 2018, he signed a contract with Esum Technology Limited on behalf of the institute for the production of the X200 underwater vehicle, valued at 17.5 million rubles. He subsequently approved subcontracting agreements that led to the realization of the X200 project.
During the proceedings, investigators alleged that the director knew the institute lacked the necessary funds and personnel to carry out the work. The project would be executed under the institute’s operational management using real estate and other assets as support, with assistance from institute staff. As a result, the institute did not receive 7.5 million rubles from accounts tied to it by its charter.
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