Finland stops the works of the Hermitage at the border, Moscow is furious: it is a quarrel over the paintings

In Russia they already call it “the war of cadres”, but for the Moscow authorities it is a real “theft”: on 2 and 3 April, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported, “the Finnish Customs seized the border three vehicles bound for Russia, alleging a probable violation of the European sanctions against Russia ». The vehicles carried works of art from the most important museums in the country, from the Hermitage in St. Petersburg, the Tretyakov Gallery and the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts in Moscow and which had been exhibited in Italy (Milan and Udine) and in Japan. “The situation”, thundered Russian diplomacy spokesperson Maria Zakharova, “can be defined as legal anarchy: we are talking about the seizure, in violation of international law, of Russian-owned works that were on temporary display abroad, under official guarantees of the Countries where exhibitions were organized in collaboration with our museums ».

“We are awaiting a timely decision by the Finnish authorities to ensure that all these works are returned to Russia,” Zakharova added. The Finnish Customs confirmed the seizure, explaining that the vehicles with paintings and sculptures arrived in three different loads from Italy and Japan: the EU sanctions against Moscow, launched for the invasion of Ukraine, also include a ban on the transport of works of art and authorize its confiscation.

“It is important that the application of the punitive measures against Russia works effectively,” said Sami Rakshit, head of Finnish Customs, who however did not provide details on the works. According to Reuters, the precious cargo – currently stopped at the port of Helsinki – is worth an estimated 42 million euros. Mikhail Shvydkoy, the Russian President’s Special Representative for International Cultural Cooperation, spoke to over 200 cadres. The Helsinki Customs Service has opened a preliminary investigation and will continue to consult with its Foreign Ministry, which in turn will discuss the matter with the European Commission. “What happens next with the works will depend on the outcome of the investigation,” Rakshit told the Washington Post. The “war of cadres”, on the Russian agency Ria Novosti, is described as “a theft”. “It is clear that the abolition of Russian culture – with the cancellation of Russian shows and the ban on our artists – by those who oppose our country in the public space now provides for the confiscation of our national heritage”, reads a comment on the agency’s website by Elena Karaeva. “Banning Russian culture was not enough”, the piece headlines, “the time has come for its theft.”

“We are facing the prologue of this drama”, continues the journalist, “we must be aware, without the slightest illusion, that today any work of art located outside of Russia, but belonging to Russia, is potentially subject to confiscation by of the customs officer on duty “.