Hermitage Museum Deputy Director Charged with Fraud in Construction Embezzlement Scheme
Mikhail Novikov, deputy director of Saint Petersburg's State Hermitage Museum, faces fraud charges and house arrest ordered by a Moscow court. The Federal Security Service (FSB) launched an investigation into the museum's construction projects in January. Allegations connect Novikov to a larger embezzlement scheme involving approximately £1.4 million from restoration projects overseen by the Ministry of Culture. Earlier in March, former deputy culture minister Grigory Pirumov was arrested in connection with the same investigation. Hermitage director Mikhail Piotrovsky acknowledged that large construction projects involve significant funds and problematic contractors, while emphasizing the presumption of innocence. He stated that clearer commentary would only be possible once the situation develops further.
Key facts
- Mikhail Novikov is deputy director of the State Hermitage Museum
- Novikov has been charged with suspected fraud
- A Moscow court placed Novikov under house arrest
- The charges relate to construction projects at the Hermitage Museum
- The alleged embezzlement scheme involves roughly £1.4 million
- The Federal Security Service (FSB) began investigating in January 2017
- Former deputy culture minister Grigory Pirumov was arrested in March 2017
- Hermitage director Mikhail Piotrovsky emphasized the presumption of innocence
Entities
Institutions
- State Hermitage Museum
- The Art Newspaper
- Ministry of Culture
- Federal Security Service (FSB)
Locations
- Saint Petersburg
- Russia
- Moscow