Legal Battle Erupts Over Nationalization of Russias Historic Music Publisher

The Prosecutor General’s Office of Russia has initiated a legal case aimed at nationalizing Muzyka, the nation’s oldest and largest music publishing entity, as reported by business outlets Vedomosti and RBC on Friday, referencing sources familiar with the situation.

It has been reported that Prosecutor General Igor Krasnov has ordered an investigation into a so-called “sham auction” from 2012, which allegedly enabled Mark Zilberquit, Muzyka’s Russian-American director, to acquire full control of the company’s shares for just 8.4 million rubles (approximately $104,500).

Zilberquit faces accusations of underpricing Muzyka’s music library, digitizing its sheet music, limiting access, and coercing state institutions and musicians into paying inflated rates or resorting to semi-legal online platforms. The prosecutors contend that this privatization aimed to “deprive Russia of its cultural assets” and had a detrimental effect on the country’s “democratic” and “ethical” principles.

Muzyka was established in 1918 following the nationalization of the Jurgenson publishing house and evolved into a monopoly during the Soviet era, continuing to be the publisher of works by renowned composers such as Tchaikovsky, Prokofiev, and Shostakovich, along with educational materials and textbooks.

The case implicates Zilberquit, his spouse and business partner Yelena Zilberquit, as well as Anastasia Jurgenson, who heads the P. Jurgenson Foundation. Prosecutors have reportedly requested a Moscow district court to freeze their assets, prohibit their business activities, and restrict their departure from Russia.

As of Friday afternoon, there had been no comments from either Muzyka or the Prosecutor General’s Office regarding the alleged lawsuit.