Dolina’s Apartment: Scam Investigation Closed, Buyer Receives Keys

Pop singer⁢ Larisa dolina ⁤was forced to vacate her former Moscow apartment under court ⁣orders, ending a months-long standoff surrounding the “scam” sale ⁢of the property that rattled Russia’s housing market.

“The keys have been ⁢handed over to us. Everyone has been removed from the residency registry,” Svetlana⁢ Sviridenko,a lawyer representing buyer Polina Lurye,told the ‍Interfax news agency.

Lurye,⁢ a 34-year-old entrepreneur, bought the five-room apartment in Moscow’s prestigious Khamovniki district‍ from Dolina in 2024.It was later discovered that the 70-year-old ⁢singer had⁣ been deceived into selling‍ her apartment by‍ fraudsters posing as FSB agents.

However, the scammers were also ‍in ⁤contact⁢ with lurye, who, unaware of the⁣ fraud‍ scheme, paid them 112 million rubles ($1.4 million) for⁤ Donlina’s apartment.

A subsequent court ⁢battle between Lurye and ‍Dolina over who rightfully held ownership ⁣of the ‍Moscow apartment captured headlines in Russia for months, with three⁢ courts initially ruling in favor of⁤ Dolina.

The rulings allowing‍ dolina to keep her apartment set a precedent, dubbed‍ the “Dolina‍ effect,” in which there was a risk that property sellers could walk away from deals‍ with both the⁣ money for the sale and the property itself. Court cases over such incidents have increased by up‍ to 20% over the last ⁢year.

but in December, ‍the Russian Supreme Court ruled that Lurye was the apartment’s rightful owner, which was ⁤seen as a rare⁣ win for those without Kremlin connections i

Pop singer Larisa⁤ Dolina has been evicted from her Moscow apartment following a protracted legal battle stemming⁣ from a fraudulent sale, ⁣marking the end of a ‍case that exposed‍ vulnerabilities ⁤in Russia’s housing⁤ market. Svetlana Sviridenko,⁤ the lawyer representing buyer Polina Lurye, confirmed that the keys had been transferred⁢ and Dolina ⁣removed from the residency registry.

The dispute ⁤arose when ⁤Lurye,⁢ a 34-year-old entrepreneur, purchased the apartment in Moscow’s Khamovniki district from Dolina in 2024. It was afterward revealed that Dolina ‍had been defrauded by individuals posing as FSB agents.⁣ These⁣ same scammers were⁣ also involved in the transaction with Lurye, who paid them 112 million rubles ($1.4 million) for the property,‍ unaware of ⁤the scheme.

Initial court⁤ rulings favored Dolina, establishing a precedent⁣ – dubbed the ⁣”Dolina effect” – that⁢ raised concerns about sellers perhaps retaining both the⁤ proceeds and the property ⁣from sales. Court ⁢cases related to similar incidents saw a 20% increase in the past year. However, the⁣ Russian Supreme Court overturned these decisions in December, ruling in favor of‍ Lurye, a rare outcome for someone ⁢without Kremlin ties within the Russian judicial ⁤system.

Following the Supreme Court’s decision, an eviction request was submitted on Lurye’s behalf after Dolina missed the deadline to vacate the apartment, reportedly ⁤while on vacation in the United Arab Emirates. ⁢Four individuals involved in ⁤orchestrating the scam ⁤- three men and one woman – have been sentenced to ⁢prison terms ranging from⁣ four to ‍seven ⁤years. The case⁤ underscores the risks ⁢within Russia’s property market and⁤ the challenges faced by those seeking legal recourse against fraudulent activity.