The Accounting Chamber revealed violations in the budget execution of the Ministry of Culture in 2024

11:12; 24 July 2025 year

The Accounts Chamber of the Russian Federation conducted an audit of budget execution by the Ministry of Culture and subordinate institutions, including the Bolshoi Theater and the State Hermitage Museum, for 2024.

The cash revenue performance for 2024 of the Russian Ministry of Culture amounted to 2,235.4 million rubles, or 135.7% of the planned targets (1,647.9 million rubles).

The main reason for the unused budget allocations remains the agreements with the New Development Bank, which continue to operate despite the sanctions restrictions. The Accounting Chamber noted that the Russian Ministry of Finance had even increased the amount of funds for these purposes by 501.6 million rubles, which raises questions about the expediency of continuing such agreements.

The Accounting Chamber has repeatedly drawn attention to the risks of non-fulfillment of these appropriations. However, funds continue to be allocated for these purposes," said Sergey Shtorgin, Auditor of the Accounts Chamber.

The audit also revealed an 18.3% increase in accounts receivable, amounting to 51.3 billion rubles as of January 1, 2025. The main part of the debt is related to advances on contracts for restoration work, where the pace of work was insufficient. As a result, 1.2 million rubles were recovered for non-fulfillment of obligations.

The volume of unfinished construction in the Ministry of Culture decreased by 10.1%, however, 30 objects worth 2.3 billion rubles remained on the register, which are subject to write-off and demolition.

Despite the identified shortcomings, the Bolshoi Theater and the State Hermitage Museum have fully fulfilled their expenses and achieved results on government assignments. However, during the inspection of the Bolshoi Theater, violations were found in procurement activities and the provision of grants in the field of culture and art, according to the report of the Accounting Chamber.

It is noted that violations were found in the Hermitage during the internal financial audit, as well as the annual non-utilization of funds allocated for the construction of a complex of production facilities and a storage facility. The Hermitage also has a significant amount of accounts receivable (2.7 billion rubles), which is long-term in nature and has signs of debt that is uncollectible, the report says.

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