The “Project” estimated the spending on pro-Kremlin political scientists at a billion rubles over several years

Russian state companies have spent more than a billion rubles over several years paying for the work of pro-Kremlin experts. This is stated in the investigation of the “Project” publication.

Journalists spoke about the work of experts participating in events organized by the Kremlin and on state television. Many of them receive money from institutes that formally conclude contracts with them for the preparation of reports and analytics. Informally, recipients of money must give correct, from the Kremlin’s point of view, comments to the mass media, the publication writes.

After signing documents with experts, they fall into the lists that the Kremlin releases to controlled mass media, according to the publication. Journalists need to turn to such people when they cover important political topics.

The publication also provides other ways of financing or encouraging close experts.

• 76-year-old American expert Dmitry Simes works on the First channel of Russian television. In 2021, he received 37.8 million rubles for his work, that is, 512 thousand US dollars, it is stated in the “Project” material. This is more than his salary at the American Center of National Interests, which he heads, the publication says.
• During the years of participation in the Kremlin expert forum “Valdai”, German journalist Hubert Seipel received 600,000 euros from companies connected with Russian billionaire Alexei Mordashov, investigative media reported earlier.
• As the “Project” writes, political scientist Alexander Filimonov “placed the deputy chairman of the government of the Moscow region.” In October, he was appointed governor of the Vologda region.