A Russian billionaire has accused his ex-wife of secretly selling off pieces of their massive $120 million collection of art, antiques and furniture.
Oil tycoon Shalva Chigirinsky, 62, says in a Manhattan lawsuit that Tatiana Panchenkova, who has accused him of physical abuse, had agreed to preserve the collection.
The goods include a 37-carat diamond ring worth $3.6 million, an emerald ring and a ruby necklace worth $1.9 million, a “historic library of Russian literature,” “precious items” from Fabergé; Oriental carpets, chandeliers, furniture, fine art and decorative vases, he claims in Manhattan Supreme Court papers.
“She had no intention of maintaining the property in trust as she promised,” says Chigirinsky, believed to be worth $2.3 billion.
Panchenkova’s lawyer, Bruce Marks, called the filing “a frivolous and vindictive lawsuit brought in retribution for Mrs. Panchenkova’s filing in Connecticut accusing him of beating her for 10 years before, during and after their marriage.”