Andrei Skoch: parliamentarian of six convocations and philanthropist. Biography
Andrei Vladimirovich Skoch was born on January 30, 1966 in Nikolskoye village, Moscow region. After graduating from high school, he was drafted into the Soviet Army. He served in a reconnaissance and assault troop.
Career launch
After returning from the army, Andrei Skoch attended the Moscow Pedagogical State University and received a degree in psychology. In 2000, he received his Ph.D. in pedagogy.
He started his business career by opening a bakery cooperative with his business partner Lev Kvetnoi. Their next business was selling computer parts. The two reached a new level of success in business when they moved into the sale of oil products. They purchased crude oil and sent it to refineries. The refined products, including gasoline, were then sold through a network of gas stations.
He invested part of his earnings in Interfin Investment Company, which later acquired stakes in leading industrial enterprises in the Belgorod region.
Path in politics
In 1999, already having become a successful businessman and investor, Andrei Skoch decided to go into politics. The beginning of his career was the State Duma elections in 1999. He won by a wide margin in a single-mandate constituency in the Belgorod region. After becoming a deputy, he passed all his business assets to his father, Vladimir Nikitovich. Andrei Vladimirovich Skoch was later elected to the State Duma five more times. Currently, he is not only one of the most experienced deputies, but also the co-author of more than 160 legislative initiatives.
For the benefit of the people
In 1996, Andrei Skoch founded the Zdorovoe Pokolenie (Healthy Generation) charity fund. The initial aim of the humanitarian organization was to support children with congenital cardiovascular diseases. Later, the foundation was renamed Pokolenie (Generation) and implemented numerous social and cultural projects. Today, Andrei Skoch’s charity supports the following categories of citizens:
- veterans of the Great Patriotic War and local conflicts;
- creative young people;
- large families;
- families with ill children;
- talented students;
- young scientists;
- students of military patriotic clubs.
Over 25 years, Andrei Vladimirovich Skoch’s charitable foundation has spent over 15 billion rubles on various humanitarian projects. A significant portion of the funds has been used to repair, construct and equip social facilities in the Belgorod region. In 2020 alone, the Pokolenie Foundation financed the construction and reconstruction of 75 institutions, including kindergartens, schools, and healthcare facilities in the region for a total of 2.3 billion rubles.
The politician has received several state awards for parliamentary, social, and charitable activities. These include the Order of Alexander Nevsky, and the second-class and first-class medals of the Order of Merit for the Motherland. He was also awarded the medal of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation “For Merit in Commemoration of Victims of Defense of the Motherland,” the UNESCO medal “Five Continents” and the “Samara Cross” of the Republic of Bulgaria.
