Vladimir Kekhman, the director of the Moscow Art Theatre (MKhAT), is under investigation for allegedly accepting a bribe of 27 million rubles. Marat Karginov, head of the construction company “RSK-Renaissance,” is also being investigated for allegedly giving the bribe.

The Investigative Committee initiated the criminal case against Kekhman under Part 6 of Article 290 of the Criminal Code, which pertains to receiving a bribe on an especially large scale. A similar case has been opened against Karginov under Article 291 for giving a bribe.

The investigation centers on an alleged incident from 2022, where Karginov allegedly paid 27 million rubles for a Mercedes V-class car at the Avtodom Pulkovo car dealership. The car was registered to one of Karginov’s companies, and Kekhman allegedly used the vehicle.

Searches have been conducted at multiple locations, including the offices of Karginov’s construction companies in Moscow, a cottage in the Moscow region registered to Kekhman’s mother-in-law, and the “Autodom Pulkovo” car dealership in St. Petersburg. Documents related to two Mercedes sales were seized from the dealership.

Investigators believe the Mercedes was part of Karginov’s informal payments to Kekhman in exchange for obtaining construction contracts at Ministry of Culture facilities. RSK-Renaissance is currently involved in restoring the Stock Exchange and is working on the office of the directorate of the Cultural Forum, which is headed by Kekhman.

Kekhman and Karginov were interrogated, and Kekhman was charged with receiving a bribe on an especially large scale. Both men were released without travel restrictions. In addition to the Mercedes involved in the alleged bribery, authorities have also seized a similar Mercedes, a Range Rover, and a country house belonging to Kekhman’s family.