Russian paintings arrested in Switzerland could be damaged

[occuserpens]

Recent arrest of artistic treasures from the Moscow Museum in Switzerland is a very sad and troubling development for quite a number of reasons.

These are priceless national and world treasures. Anyhow reasonably, all ownership issues should be completely resolved before the exhibition. Both sides are supposed to be interested in avoiding exactly this kind of problems. The fate of masterpieces should be decided on the government level with all factors considered, not by frivolous litigation.

The end goal of cultural exchanges is to promote deep mutual respect, understanding and trust. However, what happens to the paintings from the Pushkin Museum results in completely the opposite. This barbaric incident clearly promotes suspicion, mistrust and hate. It needs to be strongly condemned.

1. RIAN. Russian paintings arrested in Switzerland could be damaged: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20051116/42110516.html
2. NYT. Swiss Seize Russian-Owned Art to Settle an Old Debt: http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/international/international-switzerland-russia.html
3. Swiss govt allows detained Russian paintings to leave country: http://itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=2630792

[MaineDem]

1. Paintings arrested?

I'm guessing this is a translation thing?

:)

[WildClarySage]

2. them theving paintings... ya can't trust them.

[AlGore-08.com]

9. The police released this composite sketch of the suspect

[yellowcanine]

3. "Book em, Dano."

[tocqueville]

4. sounds like a bubble from the KGB

to get back the stuff

on the other hand the Swiss would do anything for money

[occuserpens]

6. The story looks clear to me

[hughee99]

5. I got jumped

by a couple of Russian paintings in an alley one night... tough SOB's.

[occuserpens]

7. After the looting of Iraqi museums, you get jumpy

[occuserpens]

8. Here they go, ugly consequences

Quite unfortunately, after the looting of Iraqi cultural treasures, developments like this get little attention.

Russian Museums Suspend, Cancel Exhibitions in Europe