Airisto Gem criminal case in Turku Court of Appeal – prosecutor seeks harsher sentence for Melnikov
Russian multimillionaire Pavel Melnikov's financial crime case has been transferred to the Turku Court of Appeal. The prosecutor is seeking a stricter sentence, while Melnikov himself is seeking dismissal.
Court of Appeal begins hearing extensive financial crime case against Airisto Gem
The Turku Court of Appeal began hearing the Airisto Gem case on Tuesday, according to Ilta-Sanomat. The prosecutor is seeking a harsher sentence for Russian multimillionaire Pavel Melnikov, 62, for serious financial crimes than the District Court imposed in February 2025.
The District Court of Varsinais-Suomi sentenced Melnikov to one year and six months' conditional imprisonment for serious tax fraud and serious accounting offences. The charge of serious occupational pension insurance contribution fraud was dismissed at that time. The District Court also annulled approximately 1.88 million euros in security seizure affecting Melnikov's assets.
In the Court of Appeal, the prosecutor is seeking to increase Melnikov's sentence on all three criminal counts, including the previously dismissed occupational pension insurance contribution fraud. For four other individuals of Russian or Ukrainian background, the prosecutor is seeking sentences — the District Court dismissed all charges against them. Additionally, the prosecutor is seeking for Airisto Gem Oy to forfeit 770,304 euros as proceeds of crime.
The prosecutor is no longer seeking to increase the sentence on the grounds that the defendants acted as part of an international organised criminal group.
Melnikov, for his part, is seeking dismissal of all charges. In his appeal, which contains over 67 main points and numerous sub-points, he argues among other things that he was unaware of his company's administrative and accounting matters and that there was no intent in the proceedings.
Melnikov's counsel, Justice Kai Kotiranta, confirmed to Ilta-Sanomat that Melnikov will appear for personal questioning. According to the hearing schedule, he will be questioned on 17 and 18 September. He was not present on the first day of the hearing.
A total of 22 days have been reserved for the Court of Appeal hearings. The hearing will continue mainly in August–September and in early November.
The case made headlines in September 2018 when authorities conducted a major operation at Airisto Gem properties in the archipelago. The seizure amounted to 3.5 million euros in cash, which was later returned.
Source: Ilta-Sanomat