Russia has no guarantees against seizure of museum valuables even in 'friendly countries' - presidential envoy for culture

ST. PETERSBURG. Nov 16 (Interfax) - Russian museum valuables could be seized if taken abroad for exhibitory purposes even in friendly countries, and Russia cannot "press its luck" as concerns exhibitions abroad, Russian special presidential representative for international cultural cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoi said.

"The threat of seizure [of museum valuables] currently exists in very different countries, including neutral and friendly countries. This is a very serious issue. Therefore, each time we make this decision or another as to whether to take things even to friendly countries, we should have 100% guarantees from those countries that Russia's cultural valuables will be protected and returned home," Shvydkoi told journalists on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Cultural Forum.

Only a few countries can currently provide such guarantees, Shvydkoi said. "From my point of view, we would have the necessary state guarantees from Belarus, China, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, and possibly Kazakhstan. All the rest can be more complicated. We mustn't press our luck above all, we don't need any risks. We feel fine with our belongings at home," he said.

Starting March 3, 2022, the Russian Culture Ministry has suspended the temporary release and temporary removal of museum pieces from Russian territory to foreign exhibitions. It was expected at first that cooperation with friendly countries, including the temporary removal of pieces of art to exhibitions, would be resumed starting in 2023. Shvydkoi has suggested that resuming inter-museum exchanges would be unrealistic at least until 2025, as Russian cultural valuables in unfriendly countries are not protected.