Deputy director of the Russian space agency is arrested – 12/24/2023 – Science

Deputy director of the Russian space agency is arrested – 12/24/2023 – Science

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The deputy director of Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, Oleg Frolov, was arrested on Friday (22), on suspicion of embezzlement of more than 4.7 million dollars (R$ 23 million) in the sector, which faces a crisis.

Frolov and two others are accused of “large-scale fraud”, said the Russian Investigative Committee, which is in charge of major criminal cases.

“Taking advantage of his official position, Frolov participated in a criminal conspiracy with two other conspirators. During the execution of the contract, they stole budgetary resources when purchasing equipment,” the committee added. The deputy director will remain in detention pending trial.

The Russian space sector, once a source of pride for the country, has suffered for years from funding problems, corruption scandals and embarrassing situations, such as the loss of the Luna-25 lunar probe.

The difficulties have not dampened the ambitions of Moscow, which seeks to build its own space station to replace its aging section of the International Space Station (ISS), and relaunch its lunar program.

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