Hermitage will not participate in foreign exhibitions if situation around arrested in Switzerland Russian paintings is not resolved, director of museum Michael Piotrovsky declared.

"If situation is not resolved finally within 3 days, Hermitage will cancel its participation in exhibition devoted to dalai-lama and taken place in Zurich. Matiss`s paintings which are exhibited at present moment in Dusseldorf will not go to Bazel and we will also cancel our archeological exposition in Lathenium park and in archeological museum in Neshatele", - said Piotrovsky to journalists in London.

By his words, "he will review agreements on exhibitions with those countries that cannot guarantee art and which government doesn`t understand that art is not commercial goods.

Collection of paintings from Pushkin museum, insurance price of which amounted to $1 milliard, was arrested in Switzerland by request of Noga company.

"Works of art were used as hostage while solving trade disputes. Conditioners in trucks were turned off and that jeopardized paintings", - announced director of Hermitage.

At present moment Russian diplomats got only oral assurance of Swiss authorities that paintings were released.

Exhibition "French art from collection of Pushkin museum of Moscow" was held in Martini gallery from June 17 till November 12 of this year. 55 best paintings of French artists - from Nicola Pussen to Pablo Picasso - were presented at exhibition.
sections: Culture, Region News
areas: North-West region