Former pre-trial detention center "Kresty" was sold at auction for more than 1 billion rubles

The historic complex of the Kresty pre-trial detention center in St. Petersburg has been bought out at auction for 1.136 billion rubles. The group of companies (GK) "KVS" became the new owner of the famous historical building. This follows from the statement published on the website of the state-owned company "Dom.RF" on February 21.

The publication specifies that the state company and GK "KVS" will conclude a contract of sale within five working days.

The new owner intends to restore the landmark architectural object and make it the center of cultural life, accessible to the public. A museum, hotel complex, galleries, restaurants and other public spaces will appear in the building of the former prison, a statement published on the website of the KVS Group of Companies said.

"We understand the responsibility our company is taking on. "Kresty" is not just a building, it is a historical milestone, significant not only for St. Petersburg, but for the whole country. We will create a space where culture, heritage and modernity will unite and make it a place of attraction capable of telling its true story," said Sergey Yaroshenko, General Director of KVS Group of Companies.

Last December, the state-owned company Dom.RF put the Kresty pre-trial detention center in St. Petersburg up for auction. It was noted that the main task of Dom.RF in the realization of such objects is to give them a second life, to adapt them for modern use through the search for bona fide and reliable investors.

SIZO "Kresty", built in 1884-1892, housed up to 12,000 prisoners and was also known as the place of imprisonment of many Soviet poets. It was closed in 2017 after the transfer of prisoners to Kresty-2. The territory was used as a movie set for many films and TV series.