The millions of euros of works of art destined for Russia seized by the Finnish border authorities earlier this week will be returned to Russia over the weekend, Reuters quoted the Russian Minister of Culture as saying on Friday. Olga Lyubimova.
Customs announced on Wednesday that the authorities at the Vaalimaa border crossing had confiscated some โฌ 42 million worth of paintings and other works of art on their way to Russia.
According to Customs and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the seized work of art is subject to EU sanctions against Russia after the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
"The European Commission has made it clear that exhibitions participating in European exhibitions are not on the sanctions list." Lyubimova said on Friday, according to Reuters.
Lyubimova sent her comments to the Telegram instant messaging service.
Works of art, including paintings, statues and antiques, were on their way back to Russia from exhibitions in Italy and Japan, the news agency said.
On Thursday, the Kremlin invited Finland’s ambassador to Russia to discuss the seizure of a Finnish work of art.
Russian state-owned news agency TASS said on Thursday that the Russian Foreign Ministry said it was responsible for the book. "lying in Finland until they return to Russia."
"Moscow expects the Finnish authorities to make an early decision to return museum works of art to Russia. The Finnish authorities have full responsibility for the storage of these works of art until such a decision is taken," TASS quoted the ministry.
Source: The Nordic Page