According to information obtained by The Insider, a couple of propagandists Olga Skabeyeva and Yevgeny Popov recently bought a property in the gated Novakhovo community on the outskirts of Moscow. On the official website, the estate is described as an “aristocratic location”. The residence, built in the style of classic Russian estates, was described as “genetically close to the Russian elite.”
Skabieeva and Popov became the official owners of the property in August 2024. The Insider managed to find archived advertisements for this property. Initially, it was put up for sale for 168 million rubles (PLN 7,681,000), but eventually the price dropped to 150 million rubles (PLN 6,858,000). It has four bedrooms (each with its own bathroom), a swimming pool and a wood-fired sauna.
Hosts of the talk show “60 Minutes” indeed they can afford such a property. According to further data analyzed by The Insider, Skabieeva's current salary is 22.3 million rubles per year (over PLN 1 million). In 2021, when the couple's income was last publicly disclosed, she earned 15.2 million rubles (PLN 695,000). In September of the same year, Popov was “elected” to the State Duma as a candidate of the ruling United Russia party. After the full-scale war began, data on the income of the MPs' families was – very conveniently – classified.
Before the 2021 State Duma elections, Popov tried to hide his real income and deny The Insider's reports about his high earnings. Ultimately, however, even the Moscow Election Commission accused the propagandist of manipulating data.
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After taking up the position of MP, Popov declared his income for 2021 in the amount of 18.2 million rubles (PLN 832,000), but almost four years of war resulted in a significant increase in this amount. For his role on Kremlin-controlled national television, Popov still earns less than his wife – 15.6 million rubles a year (PLN 713,000). In addition, Popov receives a salary in the State Duma of approximately PLN 500,000. rubles per month (PLN 23,000) and occasional payments from the Znanije (“Knowledge”) association (where he is listed as a lecturer) and the WildJam advertising agency.
The prosperous life of the heads of Russian television
Rossiya, the channel that broadcasts Popov and Skabeyeva's program, is part of the state media holding WGTRK (All-Russian State Television and Radio Company). For 25 years, it has been headed by Oleg Dobrodeev, who has assets worth billions of rubles. Dobrodeev has been sanctioned by Canada, the UK, Australia and the EU. Before the ban, he traveled frequently to Europe, most often visiting Italy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and the head of state television and radio station Oleg Dobrodeev in Moscow, November 21, 2019.Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images/Getty Images
According to data obtained by The Insider, Dobrodeev's official salary is relatively modest: PLN 690,000. rubles per month (PLN 32,000). However, he usually receives a quarterly payment of 15 million rubles (PLN 686,000) from the NAA advertising agency, a limited liability company that was founded by WGTRK, Pervij Kanal (Channel One), Gazprom-Media and the pro-Kremlin National Media Group as a joint platform for selling television advertising.
The same remuneration system – 15 million rubles every few months from NAA – is used by the general director of Channel One, Konstantin Ernst, whose official salary is only 850,000. rubles per month (PLN 39,000).
However, the general director of NTV, Alexei Zemsky, does not try to be modest. According to The Insider, over the last year he received on average 17 million rubles (PLN 777,000) per month. NTV is part of the state-controlled Gazprom media holding and operates thanks to subsidies from the Russian government budget.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
