March 20, 2025

Necropolis for Putin's Elite Replaces Forest


Necropolis for Putin's Elite Replaces Forest
Vladimir Putin and Denis Manturov. The Presidential Press and Information Office, Wikimedia Commons.

A church complex featuring an underground necropolis is under construction near an elite village in the Moscow Oblast, closely associated with Russian Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov, who oversees the nation's defense industry.

The investigative project Sistema, produced by Current Time and Radio Liberty, reported that the complex spans 14 acres (6 hectares) near the Klyazma Reservoir. It includes a church that can hold 400 worshippers, a spiritual and educational center, a playground, and parking for 90 vehicles. Beneath the main church, an underground necropolis contains burial vaults intended for major donors, and a helipad has been constructed adjacent to the facility.

The complex is situated near the upscale village of Pirogovo, controlled by the Guta Group, which maintains close ties to Manturov. According to Sistema, Manturov and his family own properties in Pirogovo valued at roughly R10 billion (approximately $115 million).

Manturov first acquired land in the area in 2008, shortly after his appointment as deputy minister of industry and trade. Subsequently, other high-ranking officials and associates of President Vladimir Putin, including Sergei Chemezov, head of state corporation Rostec; Anton Vaino, head of Putin’s presidential administration; and former Putin aide Igor Shuvalov, also purchased real estate there.

Sistema cited a construction contractor who identified Manturov as the initiator of the church complex. Legal entities representing the church’s parish and associated foundation share a registration address in Pirogovo, connected to the Guta Group.

Construction required clearing a forested area outside Pirogovo, including the "Les Pobedy" (Forest of Victory), a grove planted by local residents honoring veterans of the Great Patriotic War. Moscow regional authorities authorized the clearing.

By late 2023, construction expenses on the project had reached R1.6 billion (approximately $20 million), managed through a special fund financed by voluntary contributions. Donations had surpassed R3 billion (approximately $40 million) over the same time period. A contractor told Sistema that funds came not only from Manturov but also from other Pirogovo residents.

Additionally, Sistema reported that Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin may have visited the complex in 2022, along with Manturov's mother and Yulia Kupetskaya, head of the Mytishchi district administration, who facilitated the land transfer to the Pirogovo project.

You Might Also Like

Orthodox Church Rising
  • January 14, 2025

Orthodox Church Rising

The power of the ROC is growing in the government, according to independent publication Verstka.
Ghost of Economy Future
  • December 15, 2024

Ghost of Economy Future

Russian analysts give their forecasts for what the economy might look like in early 2025.
Like this post? Get a weekly email digest + member-only deals

Some of our Books

How Russia Got That Way
September 20, 2025

How Russia Got That Way

A fast-paced crash course in Russian history, from Norsemen to Navalny, that explores the ways the Kremlin uses history to achieve its ends.

Driving Down Russia's Spine
June 01, 2016

Driving Down Russia's Spine

The story of the epic Spine of Russia trip, intertwining fascinating subject profiles with digressions into historical and cultural themes relevant to understanding modern Russia. 

The Little Humpbacked Horse
November 03, 2014

The Little Humpbacked Horse

A beloved Russian classic about a resourceful Russian peasant, Vanya, and his miracle-working horse, who together undergo various trials, exploits and adventures at the whim of a laughable tsar, told in rich, narrative poetry.

Faith & Humor
December 01, 2011

Faith & Humor

A book that dares to explore the humanity of priests and pilgrims, saints and sinners, Faith & Humor has been both a runaway bestseller in Russia and the focus of heated controversy – as often happens when a thoughtful writer takes on sacred cows. The stories, aphorisms, anecdotes, dialogues and adventures in this volume comprise an encyclopedia of modern Russian Orthodoxy, and thereby of Russian life.

White Magic
June 01, 2021

White Magic

The thirteen tales in this volume – all written by Russian émigrés, writers who fled their native country in the early twentieth century – contain a fair dose of magic and mysticism, of terror and the supernatural. There are Petersburg revenants, grief-stricken avengers, Lithuanian vampires, flying skeletons, murders and duels, and even a ghostly Edgar Allen Poe.

A Taste of Russia
November 01, 2012

A Taste of Russia

The definitive modern cookbook on Russian cuisine has been totally updated and redesigned in a 30th Anniversary Edition. Layering superbly researched recipes with informative essays on the dishes' rich historical and cultural context, A Taste of Russia includes over 200 recipes on everything from borshch to blini, from Salmon Coulibiac to Beef Stew with Rum, from Marinated Mushrooms to Walnut-honey Filled Pies. A Taste of Russia shows off the best that Russian cooking has to offer. Full of great quotes from Russian literature about Russian food and designed in a convenient wide format that stays open during use.

Fearful Majesty
July 01, 2014

Fearful Majesty

This acclaimed biography of one of Russia’s most important and tyrannical rulers is not only a rich, readable biography, it is also surprisingly timely, revealing how many of the issues Russia faces today have their roots in Ivan’s reign.

Murder and the Muse
December 12, 2016

Murder and the Muse

KGB Chief Andropov has tapped Matyushkin to solve a brazen jewel heist from Picasso’s wife at the posh Metropole Hotel. But when the case bleeds over into murder, machinations, and international intrigue, not everyone is eager to see where the clues might lead.

About Us

Russian Life is a publication of a 30-year-young, award-winning publishing house that creates a bimonthly magazine, books, maps, and other products for Russophiles the world over.

Latest Posts

Our Contacts

Russian Life
73 Main Street, Suite 402
Montpelier VT 05602

802-223-4955