Russia’s Supreme Court has overturned lower court rulings in a high-profile fraud case involving Larisa Dolina, a Kremlin-loyal pop star, ending a yearlong legal saga that shook confidence in the country’s housing market.
The case drew extraordinary public attention after earlier decisions left an apartment buyer without either the property or her money. Hundreds of thousands of viewers tuned in this week to watch the final hearing, reflecting widespread concern over legal protections for ordinary citizens.
How the Fraud Unfolded
The scandal began in spring 2024, when Dolina, 70, was targeted by scammers posing as officers of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). The fraudsters convinced the singer that criminals were trying to seize her luxury Moscow apartment and that selling it quickly was the only way to protect her assets.
Trusting the impostors, Dolina sold the apartment to Polina Lurye, a 35-year-old Moscow entrepreneur, for 112 million rubles ($1.4 million). The scammers then persuaded Dolina to transfer the proceeds to what they described as a “secure” account.
Dolina later realised she had been deceived and publicly disclosed the fraud in August 2024. She alleged, without evidence, that the perpetrators were based in Ukraine. In a criminal case concluded in January, a court ordered the scammers to pay her nearly 70 million rubles ($875,000).
Lower Courts Spark Public Outrage
The controversy intensified when three courts sided with Dolina, invalidating the sale on the grounds that she had been misled. The rulings returned the apartment to the singer but left Lurye without compensation for the money she had paid.
The outcome triggered a wave of public anger. Russians across social media condemned what they viewed as a grave injustice against Lurye, widely portrayed as an honest buyer and single mother. A poll by news site Lenta.ru showed more than 95% of respondents disapproved of Dolina’s position.
Supreme Court Steps In
As outrage grew, the case reached the Supreme Court. On Tuesday, the court overturned the lower rulings, declaring Lurye the rightful owner of the apartment.
In its decision, the court said Dolina had acted under a “change in mental state” that prevented her from understanding the scam or foreseeing the legal consequences of her actions. The ruling effectively restored the validity of the sale.
Impact on Russia’s Housing Market
The case had already unsettled Russia’s real estate sector, with analysts dubbing the phenomenon the “Dolina effect.” Fears spread that buyers could lose both property and money if sellers later claimed fraud.
According to the Russian Guild of Realtors, court disputes over contested apartment sales rose by 15–20% over the past year. Industry figures say elderly sellers are increasingly central to such cases, either as victims of scammers or participants in fraudulent schemes.
Several families, including buyers from the Volgograd region now locked in legal battles, say they experienced similar disputes, underscoring how one scandal exposed broader anxieties about trust and legality in Russia’s property market.
