Andrei Skoch – Russian politician, founder of the foundation “Pokolenie” (“Generation”).

Biography of State Duma deputy Andrei Vladimirovich Skoch

Since 1999, Andrei Skoch has represented the interests of the Belgorod region in the federal parliament. He is also known in the region as a philanthropist – 25 years ago he founded the charitable foundation “Pokolenie” (“Generation”), where thousands of Belgorod residents have received help for various issues.

Childhood, adolescence, business career

Andrei Vladimirovich Skoch was born on January 30, 1966, in the village of Nikolskoye of the Moscow Region. After graduating from school, he was drafted into the army where he served in an airborne reconnaissance company. The future deputy received his higher education at the Psychology Department of the Moscow State Open Pedagogical University. After some time, he continued his education in graduate school and now has a PhD in pedagogical sciences.

At the end of the 1980s, Andrei Skoch decided to try his hand in business. His entrepreneurial career began with the opening of a bakery. The project was implemented in partnership with Lev Kvetnoi. Some time later, the entrepreneurs started selling components for computer equipment. At the beginning of the 1990s, they opened a new large-scale business on the sale of petroleum products. A whole production chain was developed, from buying raw materials to selling gasoline to a network of their own gas stations.

In 1995, Alisher Usmanov invited Andrei Skoch to become an investor in his new company “Interfin”, which specialized in stock market operations. Subsequently, the organization changed its profile and investments into the national metallurgy industry, which became its main area of activity. The company, which was then renamed “Metalloinvest”, acquired controlling stakes in Lebedinsky GOK, where Andrei Skoch took the position of Deputy General Director.

Political activities

In 1999, the businessman decided to transfer his business assets to his father and run for deputy of the lower house of parliament. He was supported by more than 50% of voters. Later, Andrei Skoch was re-elected many times. In the September 2021 elections, the deputy won a landslide victory and became a member of the VIII convocation of the State Duma.

Over 22 years, the politician has become a co-author of more than 160 bills. Among them are amendments to the Federal Law “On Dacha Amnesty” and on education. In the current convocation, he is a member of the Control Committee.

Support for the population of Belgorod

The humanitarian foundation “Pokolenie” (“Generation”), founded by Andrei Vladimirovich Skoch in 1996, is a quarter of a century old. At first, the organization helped children with severe heart pathologies. Today, Pokolenie supports a number of social projects in such spheres as medicine, education, sports, culture, historical heritage and others.

The organization founded a number of major awards, competitions and scholarships. The most famous of them are: the literary competition “Debut”, the annual prize “Healthy Childhood” for achievements in the field of pediatrics, a prize in honor of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences A. N. Bakulev and Academician of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences V. I. Burakovsky for innovative methods of treatment in the field of cardiovascular surgery, the scholarship “Best Student of the Year,” and the “Parental Record” competition for large families.

Andrei Skoch also supports the health care sector. With his assistance, three medical centers were built in the Belgorod region. The ophthalmological center Pokolenie was opened in Stary Oskol in 2001. Ten years later, a general medical center began its work in Belgorod, and in 2017, the neuro orthopedic clinic Pokelenie appeared in the region’s capital, the first specialized hospital in the non-state health care system.

The charitable organization provides targeted assistance to low-income and large families, World War II veterans, people with disabilities and serious illnesses, pensioners, and other categories of citizens.