A guide to the export and import of cultural goods between Russia ...

Introduction
In the EU, the Council adopted a Regulation (Council Regulation 3911/92) on the export
of cultural goods in 1992 in order to provide a means of controlling exports from the EU
to so-called ‘third’ countries, i.e. countries outside the EU. This legislation works alongside
national heritage protection laws. The EU legislation shares common objectives with
national legislation in that it aims to prevent the loss of important cultural heritage from
the European Union territory by setting up a system of control and monitoring of the
movements of older and more valuable cultural goods. There is a system of administrative
cooperation between the authorities that issue the export licences.
The high financial value of art (as well as antiques, archaeological objects, furniture etc.)
has made it a target, and a currency, in the world of organised crime. An EU Directive and
the UNESCO and UNIDROIT Conventions have been drawn up to address the criminal
aspects of the movement of cultural goods – illegal export, stolen cultural goods and the
legal procedures for their return to their rightful country and owner.
In some countries, there are special agencies and specific procedures for the restitution of
art works which were stolen during the Second World War. This is the case in Russia, among
others, where specific legislation applies to cultural goods removed during that period.
There are systems of cooperation between the police, Customs and other authorities to
monitor and intercept illegal movements of cultural goods. Heritage protection and criminal
law provides for imprisonment, fines and other penalties for illegal activity. A number of
organisations maintain international databases of stolen art to assist the public, the trade,
the insurance industry and the police.
All the legislation with references and full titles is explained in more detail in the subsequent
chapters.
What is covered by export controls?
Basically export controls cover older, valuable and/or nationally significant cultural goods
of various types. Council Regulation 3911/92 on the export of cultural goods lists many
categories with age or age and value limits that determine whether they are covered.
Individual countries have determined the scope of their legislation according to national
priorities and circumstances.
It is important to remember that export controls do not necessarily mean that you cannot
export a cultural object. They are intended to oversee and, where required, restrict the
export of cultural goods. Permission in the form of an export licence is granted in many
cases, as can be seen by the circulation of cultural goods in the world.
Also, export conditions and formalities depend above all on the country you want to export
from, not your nationality or country of residence. If you are a British citizen living in
Spain and you buy an artwork in Russia, the Russian export regulations apply. If you are
a Russian visitor to Italy who wants to buy cultural goods to take home, the Italian export
regulations apply.
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