Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova's answer to a media question about Finland's seizure of Russian artwork
6 April 2022 20:09
743-06-04-2022
Question: Can you comment on reports of the seizure of works of art from Russian museums by Finnish customs?
Maria Zakharova: Indeed, on April 2 and 3, Finnish customs officers seized three vehicles bound for Russia via Finland at the Russian-Finnish border, citing a likely violation of the so-called sanctions against Russia. The vehicles carried in transit artwork from the State Hermitage, the Tretyakov State Gallery and the Pushkin Fine Arts Museum, which earlier were on display in Milan and Udine, Italy, as well as Chiba, Japan.
On April 5, in the presence of diplomats from the Russian Embassy in Finland, the works of art were temporarily taken to the specially equipped depositary at the Ateneum State Museum in Helsinki, pending the conclusion of the investigation. The Finnish authorities were advised that breaking the seals on the packaging was unacceptable. It was announced that Helsinki was waiting for an explanation from the European Commission.
Basically, the situation can be described as legal anarchy. We are talking about the seizure, in violation of international law, of artwork owned by the Russian Federation that temporarily was on display abroad under the governmental guarantees of the countries where these items were exhibited on a nonprofit basis and in cooperation with our museums.
We are waiting for the Finnish authorities to act with due haste to ensure that all these works are returned to the Russian Federation.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
