Finland Seizes Russian Artwork Under Sanctions

The sanctions levied against Russia in response to their invasion of Ukraine have spread across different areas of influence. These areas include economic, sporting, and cultural sectors.

One of the latest sanctions agreed to by the United States and European Union bars the sale or transfer of artworks from Russia. Finland has since seized shipments of artwork in transit to Russia.

Finland’s Customs agents have seized three shipments destined to cross the border with Russia to return precious artworks. The paintings, sculptures, and antiquities are worth $46 million, the Washington Post reports. Finland agents seized the shipments at the Vaalimma border crossing between Finland and Russia. 

Finland’s customs agency stated it investigated three shipments seized between April 1 and 2, The Art Newspaper reports. The shipments contained multiple artworks returning to Russia after being loaned to Italy and Japan. 

The Director of Finland’s Customs Enforcement Department explained a criminal investigation began after the shipments were identified. The wooden crates containing the artworks will be stored with consideration for their value. The sanctions will remain in place for the near future, requiring Finland to hold the paintings in storage. 

The first two artwork shipments had been loaned to Milan’s Piazza Scala and an exhibition in Udine, Italy. The third shipment included works shown in Japan. 

As reported by the Art Newspaper, Russian officials have remarked the future of loans to European museums and galleries has been called into doubt by Finland’s actions. The loaned artwork is owned by The State Hermitage Museum and Tsarskoe Selo State Museum of St. Petersburg. Moscow’s State Tretyakov Gallery had loaned other works.

The seized works include those created by some of the world’s best-known artists. Priceless works by Titian and Picasso are among those seized in Finland. 

According to The Art Newspaper, Russia’s response has been swift, with threats made against the security of Finland. Mikhail Shvydkoy, the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Cultural Envoy, stated that the artworks would return following the processing of red tape in Finland. The Russian Foreign Ministry called on Finland’s Ambassador in Moscow to discuss the seizure of the artwork. 

Artnet.com also reports the enforcement of sanctions has become a top priority for European nations. The seizure of twenty-one luxury yachts in Finnish ports has shown the determination of Finland to enforce global sanctions. A joint operation by Spain and the U.S. led to the seizure of luxury yachts in Spanish waters thought to be owned by Russian oligarchs.