Russia
The Hermitage proposes a Museum of Applied and Decorative Arts. $150 million wanted for joint commercial/museum scheme
British architect, Christopher Seddon, is the project manager
The Duma overrides Yeltsin on law nationalising booty taken from Germany to the Soviet Union after World War II
Russian parliament voted last month to override President Yeltsin’s veto, putting him in a precarious political position
Twenty-five Hermitage “treasures” gained as war loot still unclaimed
Watercolours and drawings seized by the Red Army in a Berlin bunker in 1945 have been on show in the Hermitage earlier this year for the first time
Russian Parliament nationalises art taken from Germany
But negotiations continue between Chancellor Kohl and President Yeltsin
The Gerstenberg Goyas resurface at The Hermitage
Drawings believed lost go on display in “Masterpieces of Western European Drawing"
Ukraine returns war booty to Germany
This is in marked contrast to Russia’s tough line against any restitution of works of art taken from Nazi Germany
Germans give way to gloom on restitution prospects as gulf becomes apparent at Dessau conference
Leading museum directors pessimistic
“This is Soviet-style imperialism”: Interview with Director-General of Berlin Museums, Wolf-Dieter Dube
Dube reacts angrily to Russian delays over restitution and responds to the opposition of Irina Antonova, veteran director of the Pushkin Museum
Interview with Mikhail Shvydkoi on funding and restitution: “Sausage meat is not acceptable. Only culture in exchange for culture is valid”
Russia’s Deputy Culture Minister speaks about the need to establish a new cultural identity in the new Russia
The point of no return - Europe climbs on the restitution bandwagon
But the process has stalled as far as large-scale restitution between Russia and Germany is concerned
Why has the Germano-Russian war loot question still not been resolved?
Even after treaties have been signed, legal wrangles between Germany and Russia persist
What future for the looted Krebs Collection?
Rumours of a Sotheby’s valuation have encouraged talk of auction
Pushkin Museum director on restitution: “We don’t owe anybody anything”
The doyenne of the Russian museum profession, Irina Antonova, opposes returning “trophy” works of art
Ninety year-old friend of Malévich flees to Holland and scandal erupts over supposed smuggled sales to the Gmurszinska Gallery
Customs at Moscow airport impound suitcases full of papers about the Avant-garde
Where is the real Van Gogh’s “White House at Night”?
Fears are growing that the version in the St Petersburg is a replica
Stolichny bank buys war booty
Russian bank revealed as major investor in the art market
Malévich heirs stake claim on MoMA works
The New York museum insists it has sound title
Collecting and collectors are the material of a new museum opening this month as part of the Pushkin Museum
Russia changing stance: It was all a terrible mistake, we love collectors really!
Holy Russia at the V&A, touring exhibition is repackaged for the UK
Via many points in the US
Russians "close down restitution commission"
Internal conflicts hamstrung the effort to return war loot to Germany
Patriarch Aleksey II of Moscow and All Russia on restitution: "Places of worship first, museums second"
The official position of the Russian Orthodox Church, as explained by its spokesman
Conservator on conflict with Russian Orthodox Church: "We saved Church art"
Negotiating the restitution of religious art is important, but it should not be at the expense of the institutions protecting Russia's cultural heritage
George Costakis' dramatic tale of collecting the Avant-Garde in the Soviet Union: His own words
Some of his most prized works are now on show in the New York Guggenheim exhibition “The Great Utopia: the Russian and Soviet Avant-garde 1915-32”
Hermitage to exhibit Bremen Old Master drawings
Director does not foresee restitution to Germany
Looted art publicly acknowledged by Soviet Minister of Culture
A commission will be set up at Gorbachev’s behest to look into cultural property removed to U.S.S.R.