Necropolis for Putin's Elite Replaces Forest

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.