“Stop making business a nightmare!”: The head of Russia’s largest IT company was arrested

The founder of the largest Russian IT company AT Consulting, Sergei Shilov, was taken into custody. One of the leaders in the high-tech industry is facing 10 years in prison. The paradox of the situation lies in the fact that Shilov’s arrest coincided with the presidential message, which spoke of the need to develop the digital sphere in Russia, and once again called on the security forces to stop “nightmare” business.

As they say "Arguments of the week", Shilov’s company was known for selling hundreds of information products for government agencies of the Russian Federation - it created a government services portal, served the Universiade in Kazan, etc.

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Several years ago, the company was a subcontractor on a project to create a unified information and analytical support system (ISOD) for the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Last year, a scandal erupted around this system.

Shilov became a witness in a criminal case brought against the acting head of the FKU NPO "STiS" of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia Andrey Nechaev.

In October 2017, Nechaev was arrested after investigative authorities discovered shortcomings in the operation of the system, which was put into operation three years ago.

Back on February 13, Sergei Shilov was a witness in this case, on the 21st he gave evidence, and on the 27th a criminal case was opened against him. A highly qualified IT specialist was accused of allegedly persuading the customer to take the system into operation and inciting the official to exceed his powers in order to promote the latter in his career.

This situation caused a wide resonance in the Russian IT community. The businessman’s colleagues are surprised how such actions relate to calls for digitalization of the country, and why the punishment of businessmen for economic crimes is similar to the punishment of murderers and robbers. According to experts, this will once again force businesses to think about whether it is worth participating in such projects?

“Professional, enthusiastic, created one of the largest and most successful IT companies in Russia, implemented dozens of complex projects with his team, is very concerned about the development of the Russian IT industry as a whole, as one of the most competitive sectors of our economy - all these words I am happy to say I would say about Sergei Shilov if I were asked to briefly characterize him... The information in the press about Sergei’s detention was simply shocking. Estimation and formation of the cost of creating intellectual property, allocation of labor costs is always a very complex area of ​​​​knowledge. I really hope that law enforcement agencies will be able to quickly and accurately understand the difficult situation of the relationship between the customer and the contractor,” said Deputy General Director of NSPK JSC Sergei Bochkarev.

Shilov is also highly regarded by state authorities. According to Deputy Minister of Communications and Mass Communications of the Russian Federation Dmitry Alkhazov, Russia needs such people to bring information technology to a new level in world markets: “I personally knew Shilov, in 2006-2007 I worked under his leadership. Sergey's competence and the complexity of the projects he has completed are widely known throughout the market. I believe that thanks to people like Sergei, Russia is returning to the world’s technological leaders.”

Shilov’s imprisonment could have an extremely negative impact on the currently implemented project for introducing a new information system for the unified state register of real estate (USRON). The deputy writes about this in his petition to the court. Head of Rosreestr Pridankin. He points out the critical importance of Sergei Shilov’s personal contribution in performing work for the entire service of the federal body.

In Shilov’s defense, the court was provided with almost 400 sheets of positive references and gratitude from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and other government and commercial organizations.