A number of Russian art pieces worth $46 million have been seized by the Finnish Customs as they were returning to Russia. The statement came from the Finnish government agency in April 2022.
According to the customs department, the European Union sanctions were the cause behind confiscating these valuable art pieces. Caught at Vaalimaa, the southeastern border’s crossing point, the Art shipment contained a number of Russian paintings and sculptures that were on their way back to Russia after it was displayed in international exhibitions in Italy and Japan via Finland.
The legal proceedings with regards to these shipments came under criminal investigation as a part of the Finnish customary enforcement work. They work towards enforcement of the latest EU sanctions and direct their control on the basis of risks.
Tom Brunberg/Unsplash. The Finnish customs department confiscated the Russian art pieces due to EU sanctions.
The confiscation was justified under the fact that these art pieces came under the luxury goods classification. The Finnish Customs and the Finnish Foreign Ministry confirmed that the European Union sanctions include a paragraph on artworks, however, the Russian officials were not too happy about the confiscation. According to Russian senator Sergey Tsekov, the extrajudicial seizure of these Russian art pieces amounts to theft.
Tsekov went on to say that it seems like the entire continent of Europe is acting crazy, as they are not allowing Russian art pieces to return back to Russia to be displayed in Russian art galleries and museums.
Klaudia Piaskowski/Unsplash. The confiscated paintings were part of art exhibitions worldwide.
RIA Novosti cited the Russian Ministry of Culture as saying that the art pieces were a part of exhibitions in Italy–one in Milan and the other in Udine.
Other pieces belonged to the Moscow Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts and were being returned from Japan, where they were on display in Tokyo at the Chiba City Museum.
Despite the pressure from Russian officials, the Finnish Customs stayed firm on their point and said that the art pieces would be stored with utmost care and consideration of their value, safety, and characteristics. They also said that an investigation into the matter is underway.
Ahmed Zalabany/Unsplash. Russia is under numerous sanctions from all across Europe due to Russian attacks on Ukraine.
Russia is presently facing a number of sanctions from all across Europe, the EU, and NATO. Most of these sanctions are meant to curtail Russian economic activity but now, they are also now affecting its arts and culture greatly.
Since the Russian attacks on Ukraine in February 2022, the world at large has turned its back on Russia to put pressure on the country’s economy and cultural institutions as a deterrant to an all-out war scenario between Russia and Ukraine.
