Morozov Collection works in private ownership to remain in France for now - presidential rep

MOSCOW. May 5 (Interfax) - The 'Morozov Collection. Icons of Modern Art' works in private ownership have yet to return to Russia from France, and return options are under consideration, Russian Special Presidential Representative for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoi said.

"No, private [items have not been returned]. They have a different legal status, so another mechanism of legal return is being considered," Shvydkoi said in response to Interfax's question whether the exhibits from private collections had returned to Russia.

Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova said on Telegram earlier on Thursday that the items of the exhibition titled 'Morozov Collection. Icons of Modern Art,' which took place in France, returned to Russia and had been delivered to state museums.

Sixty-seven works of art from the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, another 65 from the State Hermitage Museum, 33 from the State Tretyakov Gallery, and two from the Russian Museum in St. Petersburg were on display in Paris, she said.

"It took almost 20 days to transport all paintings, drawings and sculptures back to the Russian Federation. The last vehicles crossed the Russian border on May 2," the minister said.

It was reported earlier, citing representatives of the French Culture Ministry, that two paintings displayed at the Morozov exhibition had been detained. Le Monde, in turn, said that the two detained paintings are A Self-Portrait in Gray by Pyotr Konchalovsky, which, according to the newspaper, is owned by businessman Petr Aven, and A Portrait of Timofei Morozov by Valentin Serov owned by the Moscow Museum of Avant-Garde Mastery founded by businessman Moshe Kantor.

Shvydkoi confirmed to the Govorit Moskva radio station that there were difficulties with the return of the two paintings from private collections. In particular, he confirmed that one of these paintings is owned by Aven.

The exhibition of the Morozov Collection organized by the State Hermitage Museum, the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, and the State Tretyakov Gallery was open at the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris until February 22. The exhibition was later extended until April 3 due to a high level of interest.