Moscow Court Rejects Lerchek Bid to Reclaim Seized Jewelry

Overview

• The Gagarinsky District Court denied Valeria Chekalina’s motion to return jewelry and watches seized during searches, ruling the items constitute material evidence.
• Defense counsel said Chekalina intended to sell the valuables to support her children, but the court declined to grant the request.
• Chekalina and her former husband remain under house arrest on charges under Part 3 of Article 193.1 concerning transfers to non‑residents using false documents.
• Investigators allege roughly 251.5 million rubles were routed between September 2021 and February 2022 to the UAE firm E‑FITNESS‑FZCO in connection with online fitness‑marathon sales.
• Co‑defendant Roman Vishnyak has admitted guilt under a pretrial agreement and his case was separated, while Chekalina told reporters she feels well after a December operation and expects to give birth in March.