to the gallery of Russian art in New York filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit
Company of Luxembourg has sued the New York ABA Gallery, specializing in Russian art, and its owner Bekkerman Anatoly (Anatoly Bekkerman), the internet-portal of the Courthouse News Service.
Luxembourg company Arthur Properties claims that 14 of the 18 works of Russian art XIX-XX centuries, acquired it in ABA Gallery, have been greatly overrated, and four - were forgeries. Over 18 paintings Arthur Properties has paid 9.58 million dollars.
Thus, stated in the petition, in the case of buying paintings by Ivan Aivazovsky, "Seascape with Peter the Great," which Arthur Properties acquired for $ 4 million overpayment was 80 percent. A painting by Ivan Shishkin, "In the Forest", costing companies millions of dollars to the plaintiff, was a forgery.
The acquisition of works of art for Arthur Properties, according to a lawsuit, engaged art dealer Alexander Savchuk - a Ukrainian citizen. "With the fall of 2006 and during the first half of 2007 Bekkerman conducted a detailed multi-pass operation in order to convince Savchuk purchase works of art in his gallery. Respondent intentionally misrepresented, either partially or totally concealed information concerning the authorship, authenticity and market value of works of art" - said in a statement.
The company expects to Arthur Properties through the courts to achieve cancellation of the transaction, the return paid 9.58 million dollars paid for the 18 paintings, as well as receive compensation of 6.5 million - 2.4 million for the four pictures, which turned fakes, and another 4.1 million overpayment for the work, acquired above market value.
In the lawsuit, filed in federal court in New York, also mentions that "fraud Bekkerman consciously or unconsciously, have been involved a number of persons," including his daughter, Sonya - senior vice president of auction house Sotheby's in New York, a specialist in Russian art, as well as Regina Abramovich - Consultant of the auction house.
Sued both the employee Arthur Properties Sotheby's are not. But the leadership of the auction house issued a statement in which he called "inappropriate and unworthy of a" mention the names of its employees in this lawsuit. In a statement the auction house, received by RIA Novosti, emphasized that the lawsuit filed by Arthur Properties "has nothing to do with Sotheby's, nor to its employees." "Not against Sotheby's, or against his representatives have been brought charges in the lawsuit and does not contain anything specific about their involvement or action, except allegations," - the document says.
Anatoly Bekkerman, in turn, told RIA Novosti that categorically rejects the forward in his address allegations and intends to prove its case in court. "It's full of slander. All sold work - absolutely true, that is their confirmation," - he said.
ABA Gallery, reported on her official website, specializes in Russian art of the XIX-th - beginning of XX-th century and has been operating for over 30 years. Gallery works with both private and corporate clients as well as with museums.