MOSCOW, October 16 (RAPSI) – The Second Cassation Court of General Jurisdiction on Friday upheld a 3-year prison sentence given to Denis Chuprikov for stealing a painting by prominent Russian artist of Greek origin Arkhip Kuindzhi from Moscow’s Tretyakov Gallery, the court’s press service told RAPSI. 

On September 25, 2019, the man was found guilty of stealing of a highly valuable art object. The court slightly reduced a term demanded by prosecutors, who sought to sentence Chuprikov to 4 years in custody. According to the prosecution, the guilt of Chuprikov was fully proven. The defendant in turn petitioned for suspended sentence.

It was revealed that the stolen painting was restored for 13,000 rubles (about $200). According to the defense of Chuprikov, the defendant compensated damages in full.

During the trial, Chuprikov publicly apologized to the Tretyakov Gallery and Russia’s Ministry of Culture. Earlier, the defendant pleaded guilty in full and called the committed theft an attempt to attract attention and hype.

According to investigators, the work “Ai Petri” was stolen from Moscow's Tretyakov Art Gallery on January 27, 2019. Then 31-year old Chuprikov was arrested in the Moscow Region the next day. The work “Ai Petri” was also found and seized from a project under construction in the Moscow Region’s Odintsovo District.

Police claimed the man committed the crime from mercenary motives.

Kuindzhi “Ai Petri. Crimea” depicting a mountain in the Crimea peninsula was painted in 1908.