The Russian Investigative Committee accused Russian military man Maxim Koshkarev of participating in the counterfeiting of paintings and sculptures by Ernst Nezvestny.
According to investigators, in 2020-2026, Koshkarev, as part of a criminal group, organized the production of at least 30 pieces of art, which were presented as works by Ernst Nezvestny. Members of the criminal group sold counterfeit products to private collectors in Russia and abroad, receiving at least 90 million rubles in return.
Investigators conducted searches, including in the Tretyakov Gallery, confiscating and examining 37 paintings and 10 sculptures. The artwork has been sent for inspection. The criminal case is being investigated under articles of fraud and illegal use of copyright objects.
In the New Tretyakov Gallery in Krymsky Val, from December 16, 2025 to May 12, 2026, an exhibition by Ernst Neizvestny was held, dedicated to the centenary of the artist’s birth. The Tretyakov Gallery said it was “aware of the investigation.”