According to his statement, two people appeared in the case – Andrei Shavrin and Mikhail Chichkanov, posing as FSB Colonel Popov. These two promised to organize operational-search activities, and following their results, initiate criminal proceedings against the former director of the restoration department of the Ministry of Culture Artem Novikov (son of the ex-deputy director of the Hermitage Mikhail Novikov). For this, Putyatin transferred 16 million rubles to the future convicts. But nothing was done.
secretmag.ru, 08/24/2021, “Fictitious case against an official of the Ministry of Culture cost 16 million rubles. Ex-FSB major received the money”: Shavrin was detained at his home. His lawyer Andrei Barannikov claims that the ex-FSB officer has nothing to do with the crime. “We still don’t understand why Mr. Putyatin needed a criminal case against Artem Novikov, although, according to some reports, he allegedly wanted to take his position in the Ministry of Culture in this way,” the lawyer said. He added that no money was found from his client during the search. — Inset K.ru
The court’s decision
During the investigation and in court, Shavrin and Chichkanov began to blame each other. But in the end, both received punishment – however, different ones, albeit under one article on especially large-scale fraud.
In general, it provides for up to 10 years in prison. But Shavrin was given only 2.5 years in prison. The court took into account a number of extenuating circumstances against him, the publication reported. Plus, the judge counted the time that the ex-Chekist spent in the pre-trial detention center during the preliminary investigation, and released him.
Chichkanov received 3 years in prison, but taking into account the old sentence for forgery, the production and circulation of forged documents must spend 4 years and 2 months in a general regime colony. […]