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Andrei Skoch – biography of the State Duma deputy of six convocations
Andrei Skoch was first elected to the lower house of the Russian parliament in December, 1999. For 22 years, he has represented the interests of the Belgorod region in the State Duma. For a quarter of a century, he has been the head of the humanitarian foundation “Pokolenie” (“Generation”).
Education, business, awards
The hometown of future politician Andrei Skoch is the village of Nikolskoye in the Moscow region. Here the deputy spent his childhood and youth. After serving in the army, he went to Moscow, where he studied in the psychology department of the Moscow State Pedagogical University.
Together with his business partner Lev Kvetnoi, he was engaged in entrepreneurial activity for a long time. First, the businessmen opened a bakery cooperative, then a company selling computers and its components. Later, they became involved in the processing and sale of oil products. In the mid-1990s, they invested in the “Interfin” company.
Andrei Vladimirovich Skoch’s record of service includes many distinctions, certificates and letters of commendation. In 2003, Skoch was awarded the Medal of the Order “For Merit to the Fatherland”, II degree, he has also received the Order of Honor, the Order of Alexander Nevsky and the Medal of the Ministry of Defense.
Legislative Activities
In 1999, Andrei Vladimirovich Skoch decided to engage in political activity. Having passed his business assets into his father’s hands, he ran for deputy of the State Duma of the third convocation. After being elected by the majority of votes in a single-mandate constituency in the Belgorod region, Andrei Skoch devoted his time to important public initiatives. In his more than twenty years of work, he authored and co-authored over 150 such initiatives. Among them an amendment to article 69 of the Federal Law “On Education in the Russian Federation” and the Federal Law “On the conduct of gardening by the citizens for their own needs.”
Philanthropic work
In 1996, the politician founded a humanitarian foundation, later called “Pokolenie’ (“Generation”). The organization provides assistance to people in difficult life situations. One of the organization’s main areas of work is support for healthcare institutions in the Belgorod region. Pokolenie finances the purchase of medicines and medical equipment. Under the direction of Andrei Skoch, the Foundation also sponsors the construction of medical institutions: within its 25 years of work in the region, ophthalmological, neuro-orthopedic and medical centers, as well as 29 medical and obstetric stations have been built.
Skoch’s Foundation also supports students in the Belgorod region. Every year the most successful and active students of the region’s universities and colleges are awarded scholarships in the amount of 20 thousand and 15 thousand rubles for first and second place respectively. A camp for young people has been organized on Skoch’s initiative. Its activities are aimed at developing the creative abilities of the young generation; master classes in modern dance, acting and public speaking are held, and useful business meetings are organized.
A special role is assigned to the preservation of the memory of the fallen soldiers. Skoch’s Foundation has financed restoration of over 170 monuments throughout the Belgorod region, including the restoration of the “Katyn” patriotic complex in the Smolensk region and more.
Andrei Vladimirovich Skoch considers taking care of pensioners and veterans to be an important area of the organization’s activity. Skoch’s Fund provides the disabled and war veterans with vehicles. In 2008, more than 2000 veterans received personal cars. 27 councils of veterans were provided with Gazel cars and the necessary office equipment. Similar assistance is received by the offices of medical and educational institutions, as well as parents with many children.
The deputy has repeatedly stressed how important it is to be grateful for the heroism of veterans. For Victory Day, Andrei Skoch prepared special personal greetings for war veterans and allocated material aid.
Other areas of activity
One of the largest projects established by Andrei Skoch’s Foundation was the “Debut” Award. The competition, which was held from 2000 to 2016, initially accepted young writers under the age of 25; later the age threshold was raised to 35. Another award presented by the humanitarian organization is entitled “Healthy Childhood,” which was established for special achievements in the organization of pediatric care. Another excellent tradition was the “Parental Record” contest, which was held for six years, from 2011 to 2016. During this period, 22 families with many children were rewarded.
Fighting the coronavirus
Skoch’s foundation did not stand aside during the fight against the coronavirus pandemic in Russia. The organization provided support to clinics in the Belgorod region. About 60 million rubles were allocated to medical institutions and ambulances and other vehicles were purchased for local hospitals.
Pokolenie financed the purchase of personal protective equipment for medics. The first batch included 10 thousand masks, 3 thousand respirators, 7.5 thousand goggles and 1,000 protective coveralls. A ton of nonwoven fabric was delivered to the region and used for the manufacture of shoe covers, suits, masks. To speed up the sewing process, the employees of the “Oskolskoye” enterprise had to work in three shifts.
Pokolenie sent another batch of protective equipment to Belgorod. Medical institutions received 50 thousand masks, over 7 thousand pairs of gloves and special suits. Skoch’s Foundation also provided everything necessary for volunteers who assisted the elderly and disabled during the pandemic.
