The building of the Tretyakov Gallery was searched on charges of smuggling – BBC Russian

• 5 May 2015

Share

investigative actions were carried out in the framework of an investigation on the smuggling of pictures

Investigators on Tuesday raided the central building of the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow.

The press service confirmed the picture of the building investigation, but refrained from further comment, saying they did not have detailed information about because the searches.

In turn, the press service of the Investigative Committee of Russia reported that the visit to the gallery of investigators associated with the investigation on the smuggling of works of art brought against the head of the electoral commission of the Lomonosov district of Moscow.

According to the investigation April 29, a man tried to take five paintings from Russia, the total cost of which he estimated at 180 thousand rubles. However, the audit found that the removal of these pictures is prohibited, and their true value is almost two million rubles.

As a result, 33-year-old man was detained. In fact the incident was a criminal case under article of smuggling of cultural property. Detained could face up to seven years in prison.

Paintings can be transported en masse

The investigation did not explain how the detention of the men associated with searches at the Tretyakov Gallery. At the same time the sources of several Russian media claim that the case is held and one of the employees of the Tretyakov Gallery.

media claim that the investigators suspect her of forgery in the painting, who was detained at the airport man presented to customs. It is not excluded that the removal of paintings on forged documents was put on stream.

In particular, the sources say, the whole of Russia to be brought out about 15 paintings, including brushes Valentin Serov and Petr Konchalovsky. The total value of works of art is estimated at 15 million rubles.