Vladimir Kekhman, the director of the Moscow Art Theatre (МХАТ), is facing a new criminal case for allegedly accepting a 27 million ruble bribe. The Investigative Committee of Russia initiated the case under Part 6 of Article 290 of the Criminal Code, which deals with receiving a bribe on an especially large scale.

Marat Karginov, the General Director of “RSK-Renaissance,” the theater’s contractor company, is also implicated in the case and is facing charges under Article 291 for allegedly giving the bribe. These cases are connected to the ongoing investigation into the embezzlement case against Kekhman.

The investigation centers around an incident in 2022, where Karginov allegedly paid 27 million rubles for a Mercedes V-Class at the Avtodom Pulkovo car dealership and registered it to one of his firms. Authorities believe this was part of an agreement with Kekhman.

Security forces previously searched Karginov’s construction company offices and a country cottage linked to Kekhman’s mother-in-law. Kekhman, who has been bankrupt since 2015 with substantial bank debts, has been using the Mercedes purchased by Karginov.

The Investigative Committee has materials suggesting the Mercedes was part of Karginov’s informal settlements with Kekhman for securing construction contracts at facilities of the Ministry of Culture. Karginov’s company is involved in restoring the Stock Exchange and the office of the directorate of the Cultural Forum, which is headed by Kekhman.

Both Kekhman and Karginov have been interrogated in connection with the case. Kekhman was charged with receiving a bribe but was released without any restrictions, a rare move in Russian investigative practice. Karginov was also released after questioning. An arrest has been imposed on the Mercedes involved in the bribery case, as well as other vehicles and a country house belonging to Kekhman’s family.