Finland will return seized artworks to Russia.
On Friday, Finland’s foreign ministry announced that it would return several Russian art artifacts seized by Finnish customs to Russia.
Three shipments of art worth roughly 42 million euros ($46 million) were halted by Finnish customs to see if they were classified as luxury items and susceptible to economic consequences.
The exceptions to the European Union sanction laws for cultural artifacts will take effect on April 9. After that, according to the ministry, the foreign ministry will give customs authorities authorization to release the art works.
Russian museums in Italy and Japan had loaned the paintings, statues, and antiques.
The paintings will be returned to Russia this weekend, according to Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova.
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