Unknown Ernst: the Tretyakov Gallery confirmed the fact of an investigation due to fake works

Fake works by Soviet artist and sculptor Ernst Neizvestny were sold to private collectors for at least 90 million rubles. This was reported on May 29 by the Investigative Committee of Russia. A criminal case has been opened under two articles — "Fraud" and "Violation of copyright and related rights." Maxim Koshkarev, a soldier of one of the divisions of the Russian Ministry of Defense, became the person involved, but there may be more participants in the fraud. For more information, see the Izvestia article.

"The range of potential people involved may be the most unexpected"

Art connoisseurs and the art environment have experienced a cultural shock - according to the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation, fake works by one of the most famous Soviet sculptors Ernst Neizvestny were sold to private collectors for at least 90 million rubles. The fakes, as reported in the media, were exhibited not just anywhere, but in one of the country's leading museums, the State Tretyakov Gallery.

Photo: IZVESTIA/Pavel Volkov

The Investigative Committee has already identified the fraudulent dealer. It turned out to be a man who seemed to be extremely far from the world of art — Maxim Koshkarev, a serviceman of one of the units of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation — from which there are still more questions than answers. But the evidence of his involvement in the crime is irrefutable, the official representative of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Svetlana Petrenko, said in a statement.

The investigation found that from 2020 to 2026, Koshkarev, as part of a criminal group, produced at least 30 art objects without the consent of copyright holders on behalf of the famous artist Ernst Neizvestny. The paintings and sculptures were sold to private collectors in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Murmansk region and other countries.

Koshkarev is charged under articles on the illegal use of copyright objects and fraud on an especially large scale (paragraphs "b", "c", part 3 of Article 146 and part 4 of Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation). Both involve punishment in the form of imprisonment and a fine. In the meantime, he has been given a preventive measure in the form of restriction of freedom. In addition, the property of the accused was seized in the amount of more than 128 million rubles.

Photo: IZVESTIA/Sergey Lantyukhov

— It is possible that during the investigation of crimes, other persons involved in their commission, including various accomplices, will be identified. Given the circumstances of the case, the range of potential people involved may be the most unexpected. In particular, all the people who have developed such a "creative" plan," lawyer Evgeny Rosenblat, head of the practice of complex litigation, said in an interview with Izvestia.

"Collectors may not know that a sculpture or painting is not an original"

The investigation seized and examined 37 paintings and ten sculptures. Searches were also carried out in the Tretyakov Gallery. There, on the occasion of the artist's centenary in December 2025, the exhibition "The Age of the Unknown" was opened. The exhibition was divided into four sections: "War is ...", "The Unknown in the Arena", "Gigantomachy", "The Tree of Life", which featured a large volume of works: sculptures, graphics and paintings from museum and private collections.

In light of the scandalous story, questions are brewing. Could fakes really become part of the exhibition in such a serious institution? If so, did no one bother to conduct an expert examination or ask for documents confirming the authenticity of the works of art before accepting the items? And if the papers were provided, who forged them? There are no answers yet. The Tretyakov Gallery's press service responded succinctly to Izvestia's request.

Photo: TASS/Mikhail Japaridze

—The Tretyakov Gallery has been informed of the ongoing investigation," the museum said.

Experts, however, say that in the industry, the practice of doing business carelessly is not uncommon.

— Unfortunately, exhibition curators often take things from collectors without verifying the authenticity of the work from experts. There are generally recognized experts for a particular artist or sculpture who can work both in a museum and in private expert organizations. And collectors may end up not knowing that a sculpture or painting is not an original. It is especially dangerous when the owner tries to introduce the allegedly original to the exhibition in order to further implement it," Viktor Shpengler, founder of the I.E. Repin Center for Art Expertise, explained to Izvestia.

Ernst Neizvestny is rightly called one of the most prolific sculptors of the second half of the 20th century due to the number of works and international presence. His track record includes the "Mask of Sorrow" in Magadan, Nikita Khrushchev's tombstone at the Novodevichy Cemetery, and the "Orpheus", which is awarded to TEFI laureates.

There are quite a lot of collectors in Russia today who are engaged in buying and selling the artist's works, the Ernst Neizvestny Art Museum in Yekaterinburg told Izvestia.

"We are receiving proposals for expertise, but we are not doing this because we do not have the legal authority,— the museum told Izvestia. — The expertise is carried out by specially trained people, there are such people mainly in Moscow. But still, most of the works are being examined by the sculptor's relatives — his daughter Olga Neizvestnaya and his widow Anna Graham. Olga Neizvestnaya lives in Russia, Anna Graham lives in New York. She is engaged in the recognition of sculptures.

At the same time, plaster sculptures, which are already cast in bronze, are also sold. Therefore, it seems that over time, the case will reveal many names involved in the multimillion-dollar scam. In the meantime, too much remains unknown.