Shchegolev Igor Olegovich

Shchegolev Igor Olegovich

Shchegolev Igor Olegovich  — Since May 22, 2012 the Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation. From May 12, 2008 to May 21, 2012 - the Minister of Telecom and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation.

Shchegolev is considered the specialist in the countries of Europe. Knows French, German and English languages. By some observers it was characterized as the tough administrator and even "a strong hand".

Biography

Igor Olegovich was born  on November 10, 1965 in the city of Vinnytsia of the Ukrainian SSR.

In  1988 graduated from translation faculty of the Moscow state institute of foreign languages of M. Thorez and faculty of Germanic studies of the Leipzig university.

In  1988 — 1993 worked in the Main edition of foreign information of TASS. At the same time worked in the first head department of KGB of the USSR (foreign intelligence).

In the early nineties Igor Shchegolev worked in the first head department of KGB of the USSR

1993-1997: The correspondent of TASS in Paris

In  1993 — 1997 was a correspondent of ITAR-TASS in Paris.

In  1997 Shchegolev returned to Russia and became the deputy chief editor of service of foreign information  — the head of the European sector, and then  — the deputy chief editor of news service of ITAR-TASS. Lit activity of the President of Russia Boris Yeltsin and his administration. According to some information, Shchegolev became the "Kremlin" correspondent of ITAR-TASS after left the European editorial office of the agency.

From October, 1998 to  May, 1999 Shchegolev was the head of department of government information of government office.

In  November, 1998 Shchegolev was a part of board of representatives of the state in JSC Public Russian Television (PRT).

In  June-August, 1999 held a post of the adviser to the Russian Prime Minister Sergey Stepashin and, and then  — Vladimir Putin.

In  January, 2000 headed management of the press service of the Russian President.

In March, 2001 was a part of jury of tender of creative works on development of the concept and design of the website of the president Putin. The member of editorial council of the Sovetnik PR-magazine issued by the center of political consultation Nicolo of M.

It was published in the newspapers "Segodnya", Trud, "A red star", the Anomaliya ITAR-TASS bulletin and the Sovetnik magazine.

Since  December 29, 2001 ‑ Chief of the Russian President's Protocol.

2008-2012: Minister of Telecom and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation

 On May 12, 2008 Putin made appointments in the government. Shchegolev received a position of the Minister of Telecom and Mass Communications in a new office. Actually it replaced the minister of information technologies and communication Leonid Reiman, but also had an opportunity to control activity of media.

Igor Shchegolev in the electric train from Domodedovo Airport, 2010

Team of the minister Shchegolev

• Malofeyev Konstanti Valeryevich - reform of Svyazinvest

When in 2008 Igor Shchegolev headed the joint Ministry of Communications and mass communications, the first that was evident - it is absence at the new minister of experience in telecommunications. But this "lack" was met by the natives of MCP who pushed aside from key posts in Svyazinvest state holding of people of the ex-minister Reyman. In particular, the ex-president of MCP Alexander Provotorov became the president of the main enterprise of holding – Rostelecom-. And Malofeyev some time was included into Boards of Directors of Svyazinvest and Rostelecom.

Malofeyev with Shchegolev is connected by the general spiritual mentor – the prior of Sretensky Monastery father Tikhon, the chairman of the board of directors of Svyazinvest prince Alexander Trubetskoy told. In the fall of 2010 the CEO of Svyazinvest Evgeny Yurchenko appointed to this position with assistance of Shchegolev with scandal resigned. He explained the act with disagreement with a great influence of Malofeyev and his command for Svyazinvest.

Nevertheless the reform of Svyazinvest begun by Shchegolev was almost complete: most the enterprises of holding were attached to Rostelecom which of the longhaul operator turned into the universal telecommunication operator. However, under the threat there was preserving of control of the state over the united company, but the problem managed to be solved at the expense of the redemption of a part of actions from Suleyman Kerimov.

Thanks to creation of the integrated regulator of telecommunications and media Shchegolev could solve also other long-term problem – digitalization of radio TV. The appropriate federal program was adopted in 2009. Unlike earlier being considered projects, digital radio TV was decided to make free for the TV viewer. At the same time the state refused the idea of subsidizing of Set-top boxes.

• Massukh Ilya Issovich - informatization of a public sector.

At Shchegolev earned the electronic government in the practical plane – at the end of 2009 the portal of state services was started. However, instead of earlier held tenders Rostelecom became the uniform contractor of the electronic government on an out-of-competition basis. Also, the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications and Rostelecom managed in a short time – in two months – to implement the unprecedented project on ensuring web broadcast of presidential elections in all territory of the country.

Quotes from an interview of 2008-2009
About information technologies:

• We set a goal — to enter by 2015 the twenty of the countries with the developed information technology industry (at a meeting with the prime minister Vladimir Putin on May 31, 2008)

• The main task of the IT industry during the crisis period — not to panic (at a press conference on October 23, 2008)

• The most important of tasks of the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications is a development of "the electronic government". Its implementation will increase transparency of the power and will reduce corruption level in the country. In the long term "full translation in an electronic format of all socially important services" should happen (at a press conference on October 23, 2008)

• We see the task in doing everything possible for the companies of the industry at the level of regulation (at a press conference on December 24, 2008)

About Electronic Russia:

• Fundamental difference of new edition the [Electronic Russia program] sent for for approval to the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economics — lack of detailed painting of financial resources that will allow to redistribute flexibly means within the program both by years, and between separate activities. (at a press conference on December 24, 2008)

About the free software

• Formation of the Russian community of Russian Fedora developers who will work in Russia — a condition for creation of the domestic operating system. We consider that intellectual potential of the Russian specialists such is that in Russia it is possible to conduct not only assembly, but also full development of the code. In market development and applications of Open Source the Ministry suggests to go further, for a framework of the operating system. It is necessary to pay attention to database management systems, portals, the mail systems on the open source without which practical application of Open Source will be too narrow. (at a meeting with the director of the European division, the vice president of Red Hat corporation Verner Knoblikh on February 5, 2009)

About direct deliveries of the equipment to Russia

• It is offered to foreign producers to think seriously of reduction of prices of the equipment by deliveries to Russia. The long chain, the is more than losses for end consumers. Very often happens that the starting price at which everything is on sale, be several times lower, than final (at a meeting with the management of the Russian representative offices of the companies Acer AMD Avaya Cisco Systems Dell, Fujitsu-Siemens Computers Hewlett-Packard Huawei IBM Intel Lenovo, Motorola i Nortel)

About the Internet:

• We would like that those Russian companies which have the leading positions (including technical) on the Internet, for example searchers, remained Russian. And in terms of property, and intellectual potential. We are interested in that commands which were created and made the innovation products for the Russian Internet, remained in Russia, had an opportunity to continue to work here.

• I consider censorship unreal technology (at a meeting with students of journalism faculty of MSU on September 1, 2008)

• When we develop infocommunication and multimedia technologies, we guarantee freedom of speech. It provides a natural information stream and is multiplied by technologies of 21 centuries (at opening of the 4th Annual professional forum of the Russian publishers on June 23, 2008)

• Protection of the segment of worldwide network against internal and external destructive influences becomes an important problem of IT policy of the state (at a press conference on October 23, 2008)

• We should create club ideology of use of the Internet. If I want the normal Internet that they had access to the checked resources for the children and were protected from spam, I work with "club" to which I can pay slightly more for the fact that it filters, eliminates content, undesirable to me. At the same time persons interested can do without these filters, we should provide to people freedom of choice of an operation mode on the Internet. (on February 4, 2009 at a meeting with members of the commission on the information policy of the Federation Council)

About GLONASS system:

• GLONASS is really global system which is created by Russia not only for itself, but also for other states (during the working visit to Havana in October, 2008)

About the FTP Digital television:

• The amount of financing of the FTP will be 127 billion rubles from which about 80 billion rubles will be found at the expense of private investors (at a press conference on December 24, 2008)

About privatization of Svyazinvest:

• The Government of the Russian Federation does not conduct preparation for privatization of telecommunication holding "Svyazinvest" (during the press conference on September 1, 2008)

About 3G and WiMAX-frequencies:

• On conversion of frequencies for benefit of civilians 58 billion rub will be required (at the meeting of presidium of the State Council devoted to information and communication technologies on July 17, 2008)

• Demand for frequencies for construction of mobile WiMAX-networks is, and they should be distributed on a competitive basis (at a meeting of State Radio Frequency Commission (SCRF) in January, 2009)

Performance before the Federation Council on January 26, 2011.

Shchegolev in the report of Channel One (March, 2011)

2012: Leaving from the minister's position

On May 21, 2012 it became known that Igor Shchegolev was not a part of the new government. The ex-Minister of Telecom and Mass Communications is appointed the Assistant to the President of Vladimir Putin concerning media and the electronic government. In 2008 Leonid Reiman who also lost a post of the Minister of Communications when forming the new government received a position of the adviser to the president. But the assistant's position, unlike the adviser, gives not just the status, but also influence.

"Putin is happy with Shchegolev as he executed all his instructions, - the president of Institute of national strategy Stanislav Belkovsky notes. – But Shchegolev had to leave the Ministry of Telecom and Mass Communications as all large market participants were dissatisfied with the increased influence on the industry of the entrepreneur Konstantin Malofeyev and his Marshall Capital Partners (MCP) fund. And the owner of MegaFon Alisher Usmanov who at first sympathized with Shchegolev joined number of dissatisfied even"^[1].

2014: Inclusion in the sanctions list of the USA

In July, 2014 U.S. authorities expanded the list of the Russian officials and the companies falling under sanctions because of the conflict concerning the civil war in Ukraine. Entered the new sanctions list and the Assistant to the President Igor Shchegolev^[2].

2016: Appointment as the head of the working group on execution of instructions about development of the Internet

On February 3, 2016 the working group "on use of an information and telecommunications network the Internet in domestic economy when forming its new technology basis and in the social sphere" Igor Shchyogolev is appointed the head. About creation of the working group the head Russian President Administrations Sergei Ivanov^[3] disposed^[3].

The purpose of creation of the working group - coordination of activities for execution of orders of the president of Pr-168 of January 29, 2016. They are given according to the results of the forum "Internet Economy of 2015".

The first meeting of the working group took place on February 11, 2016 at office of department.

The main thing for execution of orders of the president – timely to make decisions that the working group and should provide. At the industry is understanding that it is necessary to make, people live in the IT industry the idea of development and use of information technologies, but how to make required – a separate task. The working group – technical authority for the solution of this task. We do not substitute contractors, and help them and also the industry to interact. Besides, the working group will execute function of the arbitrator, if necessary will permit contradictions between participants of work. Igor Shchyogolev

According to Shchyogolev, the working group a minimum will consider twice each of orders of the president given according to the results of a forum: once in the middle of completion date of order, then — in two weeks prior to the termination of this term.

2017: The co-director of the working group on digital economy in Economic council of the President

On April 3, 2017 the president Vladimir Putin approved regulations on the working group of the Economic Council under the President in the Digital Economy direction and its structure. Two co-directors – the former Minister of Economics Andrey Belousov and Igor Shchegolev working at this time as Assistants to the President headed group. Read more here.

2018: Appointment as the Plenipotentiary Representative in the CFD

On June 26, 2018 the president Vladimir Putin signed the decree "About the Russian President's Plenipotentiary in the Central Federal District", having appointed to this post of the ex-assistant Igor Shchegolev. Earlier Alexey Gordeev who held a post of the Deputy Prime Minister for agriculture in May, 2018 was the Plenipotentiary Representative in the CFD.

18 regions are a part of the CFD: Moscow, Moscow, Yaroslavl, Belgorod, Bryansk, Vladimir, Voronezh, Ivanovo, Kaluga, Kostroma, Kursk, Lipetsk, Oryol, Ryazan, Smolensk, Tambov, Tver and Tula regions.

July, 2019

Income and property

2008: 4.7 million rub and rental apartment

On the provided data on income for 2008 Igor Shchegolev earns more Vladimir Putin and Dmitry Medvedev. According to Shchegolev's report the total amount earned by it for the specified period was  4.7 million rubles. For comparison income on a principle place of employment at the president was  a little more than 4.1 million rub, and at the prime minister the similar digit made 4.6  million rubles. At the same time in Igor Shchegolev's declaration there are no data on own housing. Among ministers there is he only who rents the apartment. Its area  — 75.7 sq.m. The only thing, than the Minister of Telecom and Mass Communications during this period  — the Subaru Outback car owns.

2010: The minister Shchegolev, at last, purchased the apartment

The Minister of Telecom and Mass Communications Igor Shchegolev since 2009 renting apartment, at last, became a homeowner. At the same time, Shchegolev was the most low-paid minister in the Russian government. As it appears from published today data on income and property of members of the Russian government, the Minister of Telecom and Mass Communications Igor Shchegolev for 2010 earned 3.273 million rubles. It is nearly 400 thousand more, than in 2009, but it is much less in comparison with income in 2008.

It is pleasant that in 2010 Igor Shchegolev purchased the apartment of 73.4 sq.m. in Russia. Before, we will remind, in 2008 and 2009 the minister declared that he has no own housing, and rents the apartment of 75.7 sq.m.

The spouse of the Minister of Telecom and Mass Communications, Rimma Shchegoleva for 12 years training students of the All-Russian academy of foreign trade to German earned about 427 thousand rubles in 2010. Its income for the last years, though it is not considerable, but steadily grows: in 2009 - 390 thousand rubles, the previous year – 311 thousand rubles.

As before, the apartment in Russia of 139 sq.m. is owned by Rimma Shchegoleva.

Igor Shchegolev during the management of the ministry did not replace the privately owned vehicle – in its property there is a Subaru Outback station wagon. Other property in Shchegolev' family, according to the declaration, no.

In 2010 the Minister of Telecom and Mass Communications showed the smallest income among all members of the Russian government. At the end of 2009 he earned more, than Interior Ministers and the Ministry of Defence, but this time Rashid Nurgaliyev and Anatoly Serdyukov could bypass Shchegolev.

2011: Income of 2.9 million rubles

For 2011 Igor Shchegolev earned only 2.9 million rubles.^[4]

2012: Income of 4.5 million rubles and purchase of section of 1.35 thousand sq.m

At the Assistant to the President Igor Shchegolev till May, 2012 holding a position of the Minister of Communications, income for 2012 was 4.5 million rubles, at his spouse — Rimma Shchegoleva working as the teacher of German — 540 thousand rubles.

At the end of 2012 Igor Shchegolev owned the apartment of 74 sq.m. and the Subaru Outback car (the cost in a basic complete set is about 1.5 million rubles). His wife has an apartment of 140 sq.m. and the dacha of 185 sq.m., for 2012 she also had a land plot of 1.35 thousand sq.m^[5].

Family and leisure

Married. The spouse  is Rimma Viktorovna Shchegoleva.

Holiday of 2009

The minister Shchegolev spent a summer holiday of 2009 in France. This time circumstances demanded its urgent presence in Moscow. Literally for one day at the end of July it needed to return to the capital to be present at a meeting with the prime minister Putin. Flights of ministers should be paid with the budget. But whether this rule did not extend to Igor Shchegolev's holiday, whether he did not want to encumber the Russian budget undermined by crisis. Anyway even some days before flight to Moscow for it the charter flight was ordered. The Marshall Capitall Partners company which head Konstantin Malofeyev is the board member of the Svyazinvest corporation supervised by Shchegolev was engaged in the organization of an aviatravel. And also, as assure of the ministry, also the most authorized representative of the minister as is neither more nor less the godfather of his children. Malofeyev's secretary Anastasia Klimova, if to trust a source in an environment of her chief, contacted still on July 23 Rostelecom company concerning the organization of flight of the head Minkomsyazi. In Rostelecom "render assistance to the ministry" in the organization and financing of flight of his head from France where he is on vacation, and back, it was entrusted to the "entrusted" deputy CEO Hozyainov.

Through Valentur company which renders services in the organization of business trips of staff of Rostelecom the airplane for flight on route by "La Rochelle-Moscow-La Rochelle" was ordered on July 27-28 from Cyprus company of Skayton Ink. Flight of the minister in the 12-seater airplane of business aircraft "Lirdzhet-60" cost Valentur in 47 thousand euros. Payment was made on July 24, 2009. And as far as we know none of the staff of Rostelecom these days to France, back by this airplane flew.

Notes