Tverskoi district court of Moscow sentenced a gallery owner «Russian Collection» Tatiana Preobrazhensky and her husband Igor Preobrazhensky to 9 and 8.5 years in the colony of strict regime, respectively. The couple were accused of selling forged paintings, stealing a drawing artist Konstantin Makovsky and tax evasion amounting to 4.7 million rubles.

Also, the court decided to charge convicted 21,6 million rubles for the claim victim - co-owner of «Eleks Pole» Valeria Uzzhina.

Preobrazhensky found guilty under Art. 159 (fraud committed by an organized group of especially large size), Art. 164 (theft of items of particular artistic and historical value), Art. 199 (tax evasion), the Criminal Code.

The court was told that the wife bought the five paintings of the Northern and Western European artists who deliberately changed their story, author's signature forged, and then sold them to W. Uzzhinu issued for canvases Kisseleva and Orlovsky. A total of Transfiguration of B. Uzzhina received 730 thousand dollars for the painting, acquired for much less money.

In addition, the gallery found guilty of stealing a victim's pattern of Konstantin Makovsky acquired last for 30 thousand dollars. Also, TV Preobrazhenskaya, a CEO gallery «Russian Collection», found guilty of tax evasion amounting to some 4.7 million rubles.

As stated convicted after a verdict, it will appeal the sentence in the Moscow City Court and, if needed, then - until the European Court of Human Rights.

This case is already known as one of the largest frauds in the Russian market of antiquities. Statement B. Uzzhina сыщиков brought to the established group rigged. Investigating fraud, detectives ugrozyska seen that in Russia the criminal network operates on demand, production and sale of imitations of famous signatures. Over the past three years, the forgery has swept Russia and Western Europe. This fakes are of such high quality that they do not recognize the Sotheby's experts and world-class museums.

It is estimated MIA, profit falshivok antique black market in Russia is already several hundred million dollars a year.

Loud scandal, believed in antiquarian circles, hit the domestic market of Russian painting. Many collectors, afraid to buy expensive fabrication, stopped to buy paintings.

Source: top.rbc.ru