National Security Service confiscates paintings stolen from National Gallery of Armenia years ago

YEREVAN, JUNE 17, ARMENPRESS. A case of plunder of paintings stolen from the National Gallery of Armenia many years ago has been revealed thanks to the joint investigative operations of the National Security Service and the Investigative Committee of Armenia, the NSS told Armenpress.

In particular, the NSS has received an operative data that two citizens of Armenia want to sell Matthias Brasau’s “The Hunter” and Isaac Levitan’s “Edute: Spring Landscape” stolen from the National Gallery of Armenia SNCO.

The inspection revealed that back in June 2012 the Investigative Committee has filed a criminal case over the theft of ten museum objects, including the aforementioned paintings from the Gallery and the Director’s Office between 1951 and 1992. However, the crime has not been revealed, the stolen objects were not found, and the proceedings of the criminal case were suspended.

The National Security Service has found and detained the persons who sold these objects and are linked to the alleged crime. The NSS has found and confiscated the aforementioned paintings.

Investigation continues.