The court sentenced former Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Olga Yarilova to seven years in prison

She was found guilty of abuse of power during the implementation of the Pushkin Card program.

Moscow. 25th of April. INTERFAX.RU – The Tverskoy Court of Moscow sentenced former Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Olga Yarilova to seven years in a general regime colony on charges of abuse of power in the implementation of the Pushkin Card program, an Interfax correspondent reported.

Yarilova is also prohibited from holding positions in the public service for two years, according to the verdict of Judge Olga Zatomskaya.

In addition, the court recovered 125,829,350 rubles from the former official. according to the claim of the Ministry of Culture for compensation for material damage.

Yarilova’s court retained the measure of restraint in the form of detention until the verdict enters into legal force.

She was found guilty of abuse of power, resulting in grave consequences (Part 3 of Article 285 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).

Fable of the case

According to the plot of the case, due to Yarilova’s illegal actions, the private ice cream museum located in the Moscow City complex was not excluded from the Pushkin Card program in 2022, resulting in damage to the budget of 125 million rubles.

According to the prosecution, the exhibition did not have official museum status.

Yarilova, arrested in April 2023, initially partially admitted guilt, but stated in court that she denied the charge.

According to the defense’s position, the controversial exhibition could participate in the “Pushkin Map” project, and Yarilova herself did not have the authority to include or not include it in the program.

In the debate between the parties, the state prosecution asked that the ex-official be sentenced to seven years in prison with a ban on holding positions in the civil service for three years. The defense insisted on an acquittal.

Yarilova left the post of Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation in mid-September 2022. According to government orders, she was relieved of her position at her own request.

Yarilova has held the position of Deputy Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation since 2018. In the department, she oversaw the activities of the department of regional policy, education and project management, the department of cinematography and digital development, the department of public service and anti-corruption, and the all-Russian public-state organization “Russian Cultural Foundation”.