Hauser & Wirth gallery is being prosecuted in the UK for breaching Russian sanctions by allegedly making available a work by George Condo to a person connected with Russia.
As first reported in The Times, Condo’s Escape from Humanity (2021) was allegedly made available to the collector, named in the Times as Alexander Popov, sometime between 14 April and 31 December 2022. This period is after the UK’s department for international trade imposed a ban on the export of luxury goods worth more than £250 to Russia, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Popov, who runs a prominent art foundation with his wife, is not under UK sanctions and is not accused of any wrongdoing.
A spokesperson for HM Revenue & Customs confirmed to The Art Newspaper that it had launched the investigation that led to the prosecution, believed to be the first under the law banning the supply of luxury goods to Russia.
Hauser & Wirth “strongly contests” the charge and “intends to plead not guilty”, a spokeswoman for the UK gallery says. She adds: “Our UK gallery has been charged with one instance of making an item of artwork available to a non-sanctioned person connected with Russia. We are fully committed to complying with all our legal obligations including sanctions. As the case is ongoing, we are unable to comment further.”
The prosecution comes after it was announced last week that Condo had left Hauser & Wirth, returning to Skarstedt Gallery who represented him from 2004 to 2019. Condo also continues to be represented by Sprüth Magers, who have worked with the artist since the 1980s.
The Hauser & Wirth spokeswoman says Condo’s “decision [to leave] is not connected to the case”.
The London-based art shipping company Artay Rauchwerger Solomons (formerly Art Logistics Limited) is also accused of breaching the ban on the supply of luxury items between August and December 2022. The company was placed in voluntary liquidation last year.
Anyone convicted of breaching the regulations can face up to six months in prison and an unlimited fine. The case, which was first heard at Westminster Magistrates’ Court yesterday, was adjourned for a pre-trial hearing at Southwark Crown Court on 16 December.
