A sculpture of the Russian actor Yevgeny Leonov vanished on Friday evening from its spot opposite the Mosfilm movie studio in west-central Moscow, local media reported.
A criminal investigation has been opened into the apparent theft of the sculpture, which depicts Leonov in one of his most beloved roles — an assistant professor in the Soviet comedy caper “Gentlemen of Fortune,” news website The Village reported Friday, citing the Interior Ministry press service.
Photographs of the empty pavement where the sculpture had stood swiftly appeared on social media.
Criminal experts visited the scene of the crime and law enforcement dogs were used to track the thieves, but the trail was lost at the top of Mosfilmovskaya Ulitsa not far from the studio. Police assume the thieves, and the sculpture, escaped by car, a police spokesman told The Village.
The bronze sculpture in honor of the film and theater actor was unveiled on the “Walk of Movie Stars” in 2001. The sculpture bears the distinct and symbolic prison tattoos Leonov sported for the role.
