Russian Space Systems CEO resigns amid embezzlement scandal

General Director of JSC Russian Space Systems, Yuri Urlichich, has filed for resignation due to health problems. The head of Russian Space Agency Roskosmos, Vladimir Popovkin, said that Urlichich wrote the paper on his own initiative.

Photo: Source: Itar-Tass

Russian Space Systems CEO resigns amid embezzlement scandal. 48609.jpeg

Popovkin stated earlier that Urlichich could be dismissed from his position before the end of the week. On November 11, Urlichich was removed from his post as chief designer of GLONASS in connection with the embezzlement of 6.5 billion rubles that had been assigned for the development of the navigation system. The final decision to dismiss the head of Russian Space Systems is to be made in the next few days, reports Fontanka.ru.

Russian Space Systems CEO will continue to work in the industry, taking into consideration his experience. However, this will only happen if Urlichich is found not guilty of embezzlement.

On November 9, 2012 it was said that the administration of Russian Space Systems was involved in the embezzlement of the funds assigned for the development of GLONASS. Company's press secretary Alexander Zubakhin refuted the statement, but resigned the next day.

Yuri Urlichich was born in 1962 in Moscow. He graduated from the Moscow State University of Geodesy and Cartography and the Moscow State University of Technology and Management. In 2001, he was appointed to the post of director general of Russian Space Systems. From 2006 to 2012 he served as the chief designer of GLONASS.