Vector Scientist Suspected of Bribery and Fraud
A scientist from the Vector virology center is accused of taking bribes totaling 4.7 million rubles and committing large-scale fraud, with a court hearing set for today.
Apr 26, 2026 0
Vladimir Ternovoy worked in a laboratory studying hepatitis viruses (excluding hepatitis C) and tick-borne viruses.
Source:
The head of a laboratory at the Vector State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology, Vladimir Ternovoy, was brought to the Novosibirsk District Court today for a hearing on a preventive measure. He is suspected of receiving bribes totaling 4.7 million rubles (about $52,200 at current rates) under Part 6 of Article 290 of the Russian Criminal Code and of large-scale fraud under Part 3 of Article 159. The investigation is being conducted by the 2nd Department for Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of the Investigative Committee for Novosibirsk Region.
NGS learned about Vladimir Ternovoy’s professional activities.
According to the official portal of the Vector National Research Center, Ternovoy is 64 years old and holds a Candidate of Biological Sciences degree. He is a member of the center’s academic council, but his position is listed not as laboratory head but as leading research fellow in the Department of Molecular Virology of Flaviviruses and Viral Hepatitis. He is the author and co-author of dozens of scientific publications, mostly related to viruses transmitted by ixodid ticks.
Flaviviruses are a family of RNA viruses that include the viruses of yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, and tick-borne encephalitis (according to Wikipedia).
According to the investigation, over a period of five years (from August 2020 to September 2025) Ternovoy received nearly 5 million rubles (about $55,600 at current rates) from an unnamed commercial organization for «conducting research in violation of the established procedure at a reduced cost.»
«In addition, the citizen is suspected of embezzling a large amount of funds allocated to the Federal Budgetary Institution of Science State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology «Vector» under the national project «Science and Universities,»» the regional FSB department commented on the scientist’s detention.
Earlier, NGS wrote that the head of a laboratory from the Institute of Thermal Physics was found guilty of fraud.
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