Biography of Andrei Skoch – philanthropist and politician
Andrei Vladimirovich Skoch is a deputy of the Russian State Duma, the founder of the humanitarian foundation “Pokolenie,” a successful investor and the recipient of numerous honorable awards.
Andrei Vladimirovich Skoch was born in the Nikolskoye village of the Moscow region in 1966. After finishing school, he served in a reconnaissance and assault troop in the Soviet Army. After the army, Skoch attended the Moscow Pedagogical State University and received a degree in psychology. He received his Ph.D. in pedagogy in 2000.
Andrei Skoch has received numerous awards for his political and charitable activities, including the following:
- second-class and first-class medals of the Order of Merit for the Motherland;
- first-class medal for Merit of the land of Belgorod;
- the Order of Honour;
- Order of Alexander Nevsky;
- Certificate of Merit of the State Duma;
- the Medal of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation;
- a Letter of Acknowledgment from the President of the Russian Federation.
Business and political activities
Andrei Vladimirovich Skoch’s business career began with the selling of computer parts. However, he earned his first significant capital when he started trading in oil products. Andrei Skoch and his partner first carried out primary oil refining and later sold gasoline at their own gas stations.
In the mid-90s, Andrei Skoch invested his accumulated money into Interfin company, which was later reorganized into Metalloinvest Group. The investment turned out to be highly successful. Several years later, the holding acquired stakes in Oskol Electrometallurgical Plant and Lebedinsky GOK. Consequently, Andrei Skoch and his partners also became owners of shares in these enterprises.
By the end of the decade, Andrei Skoch’s assets served as a kind of bank deposit for him. He entrusted the direct management of the company to the top management and his partners. In addition, he began to consider a career in politics. In 1999, Andrei Skoch was elected to the State Duma with 54 % of the votes. Later, he transferred his share in the company to his father, Vladimir Nikitovich. A year later, Andrei Skoch became head of the Advisory Council on Metallurgy and the Mining Industry.
Charity work
Andrei Skoch is actively engaged in charity work. He considers the Pokolenie foundation, which he founded in 1996, to be his lifetime project. Initially, the organization implemented projects with a medical focus only, but its activities later expanded to include other areas such as education, sports, culture, patriotic education of young people, supporting scientists, students, and specialists in various fields. In addition, the foundation provides targeted assistance to Russian citizens.
One of the most notable projects of Andrei Skoch was the literary award “Debut”. Starting in 2000, it has been awarded to talented writers under 25 and later under 35. Andrei Skoch received the title “Best Philanthropist” for the development of the project.
Pokolenie also sponsored the construction of numerous medical facilities in the Belgorod region, equipping them with modern medical equipment. Funds from Andrei Vladimirovich Skoch’s foundation are regularly allocated for the restoration of military burials and monuments.
