The Finnish Foreign Ministry announced, on Friday, that Finland will hand over artworks owned by Russian museums with an insurance value of more than 40 million euros, which were seized last week in the name of European Union sanctions against Russia.
The sanctions ban the export of luxury goods, including transit, to Russia, but an exception for cultural goods will take effect on April 9. After the entry into force, the Finnish Customs will give permission to carry forward, the ministry said.
in Moscow Olga Lyubimoocytes The Minister of Culture said that the art treasures currently in Finnish warehouses will return to Russia this weekend.
Art treasures seized at the Valima border crossing in southern Finland, including sculptures, paintings, and antiques, returned from Russia and Japan to the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg and Tsarskoye, the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, and the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts.
The insurance value of the three blocked shipments is 42 million euros (16 billion HUF), but according to Finnish customs, the value of some of the art treasures is invaluable.
Dozens of people are suspected of violating EU sanctions while in transit.
(MTI)
