Russia

Russian authorities confirm that famous 'Trinity' icon will be transferred to church despite protests from restorers and art historians

The announcement that President Putin will return Andrei Rublev’s masterpiece has sparked criticism from experts due to its fragile condition

Hermitage returns monumental silver sarcophagus of Saint Alexander Nevsky to the Russian Orthodox Church

The move is described as "a striking event of world significance" by the director of the St Petersburg museum

Fire damages Russian cultural centre in Cyprus

Moscow officials describe that blaze as a "terrorist attack"

The Georgian artists at the forefront of anti-government protests

When Georgia’s government tried to impose a Russian-style ‘foreign agent’ law, the cultural community hit back hard

Pro-Putin Hermitage director Mikhail Piotrovsky speaks out again in support of war in Ukraine

The veteran Russian museum chief tells Kremlin newspaper that war is “a means of cultural exchange”

‘Glad to see they are scared’: Pussy Riot founder Nadya Tolokonnikova added to Russia’s wanted list for criminals

A performance in which she burns an effigy of Vladimir Putin, and an NFT of a vagina-shaped Virgin Mary are thought to be behind new charges

What has happened to visitor numbers at Russian museums since the start of the war?

As Russia leaves the world cultural stage following its invasion of Ukraine, we look at how its art institutions have reacted

Marina Loshak steps down as director of Moscow’s Pushkin Museum in latest high-level Russian departure

The well-respected director has been replaced by Elizaveta Likhacheva, the current head of the Shchusev State Museum of Architecture

Putin visits heritage site in Crimea on ninth anniversary of annexation

Tauric Chersonese, a Unesco World Heritage Site, will boast multiple museums—and a humanitarian centre

How one year of Russian sanctions have shaped the art market

Businesses urged to tighten approach to client background checks as US subpoenas auction houses for sales records

Russian or Ukrainian? Museums update Kazimir Malevich's nationality

The Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam now describes the abstract painter as Ukrainian, while The Met reclassifies other painters who were born or worked in the country

Moscow museum director removed after complaint against institution’s lack of ‘traditional Russian spiritual and moral values’

Zelfira Tregulova, who has headed the State Tretyakov Gallery since 2015, will be replaced by Elena Pronicheva, who has links to Vladimir Putin

Special investigation: Serious concerns over fate of Ukraine’s museum works taken by Russians

The Art Newspaper probes the complex issues arising from the removal of the Kherson Museum’s collection, sent to Crimea for “safekeeping”

Heritagecomment

'Scythian gold is at the heart of Russia’s identity war'

Art historian and curator Konstantin Akinsha asserts that Russian attempts to claim succession from the ancient Scythians date back to the 18th century

Art trade benefits as wealthy Russians flock to sanction-free Dubai

The emirate, currently a haven for 'half of Moscow', is enjoying a post-pandemic economic boom

Russian artist flees LGBTQ crackdown

Yulia Tsvetkova was acquitted on charges of distributing gay ‘pornography’ but strict new laws have forced her to leave the country

Russianews

Russian culture minister and a billionaire arts patron are included in latest lists of sanctions from the West

Olga Lyubimova has been sanctioned by the European Union and Vladimir Potanin is on the US list

Crime news

Russian arms dealer and artist Viktor Bout returns to Moscow via prisoner swap with US basketball player Brittney Griner

The man known as The Merchant of Death was exchanged for the American athlete, who was arrested for possessing cannabis oil at a Moscow airport in February

How the war in Ukraine reveals the heightened politics of Unesco

Boycotted Russia resigned as chair of the World Heritage Committee last month

London National Gallery's cancelled partnership with Pushkin Museum revealed

UK museum now seeking loans to save blockbuster show of Modern art, after collaboration with Russia rejected

Ukrainian forces win back Kherson region—but Russia has reportedly looted its art collection

The Ukraine territory is one of four illegally annexed on 30 September with decrees by Russian President Vladimir Putin

Farewell to contemporary art in Russia: the cancellation of the Moscow Biennale marks the end of an era

Dozens of contemporary art shows have been forced to close since the outset of the war with Ukraine—but this one was meant to serve Putinist propaganda

Moscow's GES-2 House of Culture: the rise and fall of Russian billionaire's huge new art hub

Russia’s foray into international culture stalls as art complex that opened last year sees artists exit and change of direction

Kyiv cultural sites reportedly damaged in Russian bombardment

Ukrainian culture minister Oleksandr Tkachenko says buildings have been damaged including the Khanenko Art Museum and the Kyiv Art Gallery

What do exiled Russian art world figures think of the war? We spoke to three in Tbilisi to find out

A museum director, theatre director and artist describe the lack of hope—and warn that cultural sanctions may cause the intelligentsia to unite against the west

State Hermitage Museum curator quits over Russia's war in Ukraine

Dimitri Ozerkov, the head of the contemporary art department, made the announcement on Instagram after months of silence

Immersive Anne Imhof exhibition—planned for Moscow and cancelled due to war in Ukraine—opens in Amsterdam

The celebrated German artist has created an installation at the Stedelijk Museum that marks a step away from the elaborate performance works for which she is best known

Russia to take over Ukrainian museum collections as formal annexation plans announced

Putin's decree to permanently occupy four regions of Ukraine means thousands of artefacts will become property of Russia