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

Chapter 3: European Union Member States
Slovakia
lation. Such sanctions are not directly established in the laws of the Slovak Republic. Sanctions
only apply to the failure to adhere to obligations in the case of the export of objects of museum
and gallery value as set out in Act No. 115/1998 Coll. and to objects protected by special regulation
(i.e. national cultural monument, archive documents, library document or fund).
Issues relating to the protection of the cultural heritage and antiques are partially governed
by the new Criminal Act No. 300/2005 Coll. More specifically, it is included in § 249 – Damaging
and Devaluation of Cultural Heritage and in other paragraphs such as § 212 – Theft.
Sanctions for the violation of obligations in the case of the export and import of goods of
cultural character can be imposed by two bodies:
• The Ministry of Culture can impose fines in relation to objects of museum and gallery
value, collection objects (Act No.115/1998 Coll). In relation to cultural monuments,
sanctions of the following kinds may apply: a) offences (regulated by Act No.49/2002
Coll); b) other acts of administrative misconduct (regulated by Act No.49/2002 Coll).
• The Ministry of Interior can impose fines of up to 100,000 Sk for those who export
archival documents without a licence or who import such documents without a permit
from their country of origin (sanctions as set out in Act No. 395/2002 Coll. on archives
and registries and on amendments to some acts in the valid wording).
Are there any special export restrictions on certain objects or other considerations I should
know about?
Yes. Slovak legislation protects specific categories of goods, so you may find that the
licence you apply for is denied, or that only temporary export is allowed for the object you
want to export.
Goods that are considered as historical monuments or parts thereof cannot be permanently
exported from Slovakia.
The permanent export of a collection object is possible through exchange, based on a
permit issued by the Ministry of Culture. In exceptional cases the Government, based on
the proposal of the Ministry of Culture, will issue a permit for the permanent export of a
collection object for reasons other than exchange.
For library documents of a historical character, permanent export is also exceptional, on
decision of the Government based on the proposal of the Ministry of Culture. Otherwise,
their temporary export can be allowed by the Ministry of Culture.
Archival documents that form part of the archival heritage of Slovakia cannot be permanently
exported from the country.
What are the requirements if I want to import cultural goods into Slovakia from Russia?
There are no specific formalities related to such imports. You must fill in a special declaration
form and present it to customs.
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