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

CHAPTER
Russia
WHICH LEGAL ACTS APPLY TO CULTURAL GOODS EXPORTED FROM RUSSIA TO
EU COUNTRIES?
FEDERAL LAWS AND OTHER STATUTES
Russian Federation Law No. 4804-1, Cultural Goods Export and Import, April 15 1993.
Order No. 844 of the Russian Federation Ministry of Culture, “Updated Requirements for
Authorisations to Export Cultural Goods and Cultural Heritage Objects from the Territory of
the Russian Federation”, August 7 2001.
Regulations Governing Examination and Control of Export of Cultural Goods (approved by the
Russian Federation Government in its Decree No. 322 of April 27 2001).
Regulations Related to Fee Payment Principles and Charge Criteria Applicable to Offi cial
Examination of Cultural Goods (approved by the Russian Federation Ministry of Culture in its
Order No 888 of June 4 2002).
In addition, there are federal laws dealing with the Museum, Archives and Library Stocks of the
Russian Federation, cultural heritage items of the peoples of the Russian Federation, legislation
related to cultural goods moved in or out during the Second World War and legislation
governing movement of weapons and precious stones and metals. All these enactments are,
to a certain extent, applicable to cultural goods brought into and taken out of Russia.
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS
UNESCO’s Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and
Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property of 1970, ratifi ed by the U.S.S.R. on April 28 1988.
Russia signed the 1995 UNIDROIT Convention on Stolen or Illegally Exported Cultural Objects
on June 29 1996, but has not ratifi ed it as yet.
The website http://www.rsoc.ru/site/law/history/import.shtml includes the most signifi cant legal
acts of the Russian Federation on the export and import of cultural goods (in Russian only).
Which organ of the executive branch of government regulates and controls the export and
import of cultural goods in Russia?
Control over the export and import of cultural goods in Russia is exercised by the Federal
Regulatory Service for Mass Media, Communications and Protection of Cultural Heritage,
or Rossvyazokhrankultura (http://www.rsoc.ru), which is supervised by the Government of
the Russian Federation (http://www.government.gov.ru/). In addition to other numerous
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