Russian TV chief Konstantin Ernst named victim in Ernst Neizvestny forgery case

Konstantin Ernst, director general of Russia's Channel One, has been recognized as a victim in a criminal case involving forgeries of works by sculptor Ernst Neizvestny. The information was confirmed by sources in the art market and at the Tretyakov Gallery.

Konstantin Ernst, the director general of Russia's Channel One (Perviy Kanal), has been officially recognized as a victim in a criminal case concerning the alleged forgery of artworks by renowned Soviet sculptor and graphic artist Ernst Neizvestny. The case was confirmed to the Russian newspaper Kommersant by two sources in the art market, with a third source at the Tretyakov Gallery also verifying the information.

Ernst Neizvestny, who passed away in 2016, was one of the most prominent Russian sculptors of the 20th century, known for his bold modernist style and famously confrontational meeting with Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev in 1962. His works have remained highly valued on the international art market, making them a target for forgery.

The criminal case highlights ongoing concerns about art fraud in Russia's high-end market, where fakes attributed to celebrated artists have surfaced with increasing frequency in recent years. No further details about the scope of the alleged scheme or the number of suspects have been made public at this stage.