Russian prosecutors cancel criminal case against investigator over missing jewelry seized from influencer Valeria Chekalina
Some of the jewelry seized during a search of blogger Valeria Chekalina’s home has gone missing, Interior Ministry spokeswoman Irina Volk said on Telegram. Authorities opened a criminal investigation into one of the investigators in the case against Chekalina, who is known as Lerchek.
According to prosecutors, a criminal investigation has been canceled against Nikita Tulupov, an investigator involved in the Lerchek case. This decision comes after some jewelry seized during a search of influencer Valeria Chekalina's home went missing. The Interior Ministry spokeswoman, Irina Volk, informed this via Telegram. Volk stated that the jewelry "was not entered into evidence in the criminal case and was stored improperly, resulting in its loss."
Volk also mentioned that the investigation was launched into Tulupov for allegedly exceeding his authority. Chekalina, known as Lerchek, is a high-earning blogger, and her former husband, Artem Chekalin, was previously charged with tax evasion and money laundering. In March 2026, Chekalina received a suspended five-year sentence and a fine for illegally transferring funds abroad, while her former husband was given a seven-year prison sentence.
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