In Moscow detained the former Director of the theater of satire

Law enforcement officers detained in Moscow the former director of the Moscow academic theater of satire Pavel Nestratov, who left this post in August. He was charged with mediation in bribery on an especially large scale (part 4 of Art. 291.1 of the Criminal Code), three sources familiar with the investigation of the criminal case told RBC.

According to the interlocutors of RBC, Nestratov is charged with mediation in the transfer of a bribe from a theater contractor to a former employee of the Department of Culture of Moscow. Remuneration, according to investigators, was intended for patronage in the conclusion of a state contract for the supply of theater equipment. The investigation insists on the detention of the former director for a period of two months. The corresponding petition in the evening of November 12 will consider Zamoskvoretsky district court of Moscow. The sanction of the article imputed to him provides for seven to 12 years of imprisonment. The investigation is conducted by the Main Investigation Department of the TFR in Moscow.

RBC sent requests to the Investigative Committee of Russia and the Department of Culture of Moscow. Nestratov did not respond to phone calls and messages, his phone was unavailable.

Pavel Nestratov headed the theater since June 2024, when he replaced Igor Berlin in this post. In August 2026, he left the post, his former deputy Ekaterina Sirotkina became his new director.

The Moscow Academic Satire Theatre is one of the largest drama theaters in the capital. Its artistic director is People's Artist Yevgeny Gerasimov. After his appointment to this position in 2024, he spoke about his intention to return the theater to its origins, to restore the performances that formed his special artistic style.

The Satire Theater opened in 1924 in the basement of the house No. 10 in Bolshoi Gnezdnikovsk Lane, where the GITIS training center is now located. The institution moved to Triumphal Square in 1965. For a hundred-year history, Andrei Mironov, Anatoly Papanov, Spartak Mishulin, Evgeny Vesnik, Rina Zelenaya, Olga Aroseva, Vera Vasilyeva and Tatiana Peltzer performed on its stage.

Since 2000, the theater was headed by Alexander Shirvindt. In October 2021, he became its president and remained in this position until his death in March 2024. Shirvindt was the only person in the history of the theater to hold this post.