In its investigation "Fathers and Grandfathers," the publication highlights the fates of Russian officials and their families, including Leonid Markelov.
The Markelovs got married in 1999. In 2001, Leonid took the position of head of the republic and managed it until 2017. During this period, he transferred seven major businesses to his wife, including a local television company and a significant amount of real estate, according to "Proekt."
Unexpectedly, in 2012, Elena Markelova-Starygina moved to London. According to sources, she met Simon Levay there through a dating app. He convinced her to invest money from the sale of one of the family apartments, after which he disappeared.
Leonid Markelov was arrested in 2017 on corruption charges. In 2021, he was sentenced to 13 years in a penal colony and fined 235 million rubles.
According to "Proekt," Irina Starygina returned to Mari El, where she began working as a permanent makeup artist.
In 2022, Netflix released a documentary titled "The Tinder Swindler," which tells the stories of women whom Levay interacted with through the app. He deceitfully extorted money from them, creating an illusion of wealth. The actual number of victims is likely much higher, as many did not dare to share their stories. The film became popular internationally, and Levay gained notoriety as the "Tinder Swindler."
