Attempt to sell paintings from Yanukovych’s residence occurred in Belarus

The KGB reports that an attempt to sell paintings taken from the residence of the ex-president of Ukraine has been prevented.

“The State Security Committee of Belarus has prevented illegal activities of a criminal group which tried to sell works of authors which have not been established for the moment, saying that they are works of the world-famous artists Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh, Edvard Munch, Konstantin Yuon and Vasily Kandinsky,” the report of the KGB of Belarus reads.

“The detainees claimed that the works of art offered for sale by them had been carried out from the residence of the former Ukrainian president Viktor Yanukovych. Those persons wanted to be paid 2 mln Euro for the five paintings,” the address reads.

At the moment an art historical and other expert examinations of the paintings are taking place. Their real cost is to be determined, as well as their artistic, cultural and historical merit.

According to preliminary information, experts suppose that the paintings have certain value, however their cost is much lower than the one announced by the suspects.

As a result of the searches held at the place of domicile of the detainees, KGB officers discovered and seized more than 100 ancient icons and paintings.

A criminal case on charges relating Article 233 Part 2 of the Criminal Code of Belarus (“illegal business activities”) has been opened against the suspects.