Dolina Trial: Closed Doors on Apartment Sale
The trial of People’s Artist of Russia Larisa Dolina on the charge of invalidating the sale of her Moscow apartment began behind closed doors. The secrecy surrounding the hearing and the decision to bar journalists from entering the courtroom underscore the sensitive nature of the proceedings at the Moscow Khamovnichesky Court. Observers note that the court appearance is part of a larger investigation into alleged manipulation of a real estate transaction, with the public kept at a cautious remove while investigators pursue the facts surrounding the case.
In August Dolina placed her central Moscow apartment on the market, transferring a portion of her savings to parties involved in the alleged scheme. The situation escalated when the so‑called new owners attempted to gain access to the apartment, but security would not let them in. Dolina then filed a lawsuit against Polina Lurie, the buyer named in the deal, seeking a court ruling that would declare the sale invalid and reverse the transfer of ownership. The legal move reflects Dolina’s aim to restore control over the property amid suspicions that the transaction was compromised by fraudulent actors and misrepresented to her as legitimate property transfer.
According to investigators, a courier who delivered part of the sale proceeds from Dolina to the fraudsters became a focal point of the case. Angela Tsyrulnikova is charged with particularly large-scale fraud for her alleged role in the operation. She has stated that she was utilized in the scheme without full awareness of its scope, a claim that has fueled the ongoing inquiry and shaped the court’s handling of the matter as it moves through pre-trial procedures.
On September 10 Tsyrulnikova petitioned the court to be released from pre-trial detention due to her daughter’s surgery, but the court did not find sufficient grounds to alter the preventive measure. The detention was extended in early October as investigators continued the pre-trial phase of the case, signaling that the investigation remains active and substantial questions still need to be resolved before any final judgment can be issued. The extension illustrates the typical pace of such cases, where multiple filings, requests, and judicial rulings determine the trajectory of proceedings for all parties involved.
Earlier statements from Dolina referenced her health in the wake of the fraud and the stress of the ongoing legal process, highlighting the personal toll a high-profile case can take on a public figure. The situation also draws attention to issues of property rights, trust in real estate transactions, and the ways in which criminal networks may attempt to exploit assets belonging to notable individuals. As proceedings continue, the involved parties and observers watch closely how the court addresses the competing interests of protecting victims, upholding due process, and clarifying the legality of the disputed sale within a framework that respects the rights of all involved.