Oleg Belikov, the deputy director of Tretyakov Gallery, is arrested in per curiam decision. Earlier he had to step down after being hit with allegations of fraud.
Belikov faces accusations of pilfering the city funds while working for the Western Administrative District of Moscow in 2008, before his move to the gallery in 2009. Investigators stressed that the allegations did not relate to Belikov’s current work, but left the possibility that he could carry on with fraudulent activities, while at the Tretyakov Gallery.
During interrogation it was established that Belikov ensured a win of some building company in tendering for houses' capital repairs. The majority of received money was stolen by Belikov and his associates.
Irina Lebedeva, the Tretyakov Gallery's director, said she appreciated the intentions of Oleg Belikov to write a letter of resignation for reasons of professional ethics. But she added that there has not yet been any court ruling and as such Belikov must be considered innocent, whatever the gallery’s decision on his resignation.
Lebedeva said that Belikov had executed important duties since his arrival at the gallery, grappling with legal and economic issues. "I could never deny the positive moments in his stay here and paint the whole episode black", she said.
Sources: Lenta.ru The Moscow News
Author: Julia Shuvalova