Fine Art transports to Russia:

CAREFUL CHECK AND LOTS OF PAPERWORK

ICEFAT News has spoken to Mr. Igor Filatov, Managing Director for the Finnish fine art transport company John Nurminen CIS, in Moscow. Here he shared with us some tips about transporting fine art to and from Russia.

Russia is a young market economy, and as far as fine art transportation is concerned, this is evident above all in that the legislative base, customs administration, taxation etc., are not yet comparable with conditions in the West. There is no legal definition of fine art - everything brought into or out of the country is treated as ordinary goods. Problems with smuggling have also led to very careful checking systems.

— Be prepared for customs authorities to check all goods – 100% of them, says Igor Filatov. They will open all crates and examine every object brought into or out of the country.

Paperwork surrounding importation and exportation of fine art is equally meticulous and strict.

—Documentation is required for every object, he reports. Descriptions of objects must include name, date of production, artist, technique, size, weight and value.

Special documentation is also required from both lender and borrower institution, and two sets of photographs must accompany each object. One is compared with the original and stamped at entry into Russia, the other at departure from the country.

—These procedures are very strict, Igor Filatov points out, stressing the importance of the Ministry of Culture as a participant in the lending and borrowing process.

—When loaning out items from Russia, the Ministry of Culture requires a government guarantee from those countries borrowing Russian artworks, irrespective of their origin or value.

PREPARE CAREFULLY AND IN GOOD TIME

Bearing in mind these careful checks and heavy paperwork, Igor Filatov's advice to museums and other institutions lending and transporting fine art to Russia is to be prepared well ahead of time, and, obviously, to work together with a Russian agent.

—We are familiar with the legislation and the rules, and we are up to date with the whole process concerning importation of time art, say Igor Filatov.

John Nurminen CIS has two offices in Moscow, one in the city center and one at the airport. 70% of all importations into Russia take place by air, so a presence at the airport is important for importers of fine art.

The YAK-3 fighter jet was one of the objects at the French exhibition about Charles De Gaulle at the historical museum in Moscow. The entire exhibition weighed a total of 26 tons, and required the services of 4 military transport planes to bring it from France.

The remaining 30% of transports take place by road, primarily through Finland. Igor Filatov does not recommend transporting fine art by land to Russia through Poland, the Ukraine or Belarus.

— Legislation in these different countries is quite different, and paperwork takes a long time, with great risks of delays.

—Therefore, we recommend our European customers to transport goods by ferry to Helsinki, and onward by land to St. Petersburg, Moscow or other destinations. That's the most reliable way - also from a security point of view, says Igor Filatov.

Although Russia has been a turbulent nation since the fall of the Soviet regime, Igor Filatov has not encountered any incidents in connection with fine art transportation. Where particularly valuable transports are concerned, he works with the Ministry of Internal Affairs for extra security,
offering the possibility of armed escorts where necessary.

Interest in exhibitions from abroad has always been high in Russia as it was in the former Soviet Union, and it has increased over recent years.

—Russian people are well educated and large exhibitions of famous artists always attract a large public, says Igor Filatov.

Currently he is involved in an exhibition of gigantic statues by Gina Lollobrigida at the Pushkin Museum. The Historical Museum is holding an exhibition from the Charles De Gaulle Institute in France, including among
other things a full size fighter jet.

The company has also been involved with arranging transport for the loan of five priceless Fabergé eggs to the USA for the exhibition "Treasures of the Tsars".

The parent company John Nurminen in Finland is a member of ICEFAT, and Igor Filatov is very favorably disposed to working together with colleagues around the world.

—ICEFAT has a great value, and we know that we are working together with professional colleagues who talk the same language, he concludes.