[Кирилл Сызранский]

We publish a letter to art critic Irina's Shalin, written after the return of history with the withdrawal of Russian icon of the Trinity letter Kirill Ulanov 1690 with the aim to dispel many of the unpleasant and offensive speculation is rife that the Internet, TV and newspapers.

Dear friends and colleagues, send out this letter to you with only one goal - to restore justice and to tell the truth about the circumstances of his return to Russia of the icon "Old Testament Trinity," the letter Kirill Ulanov 1690, which was undertaken by the Museum Russian icons and executed May 14, 2012 by its director, Nikolai Vasilyevich Zadorozhnyi. To arrange such a low scandal events - which in any thinking person should cause a feeling of joy and gratitude - to pour out in one day so much dirt and lies on the air, all to turn on its head - it was possible in only one case - when someone needed to make a noble and true civil action in a number of people in their monstrous immorality and publicity show.

Here's how it really was.

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In mid-April of this year Mikhail Abramov, founder of the Museum of Russian Icons (hereinafter MRI), its director, NV and IA Zadorozhnyi Shalina went to Great Ustyug for the solemn transfer of Veliky State Historical and Architectural Museum-Reserve of ten holiday icons stolen of the local church Demetrius of Thessalonica in 1984 they were purchased for the collection of MRI in 2006 in Switzerland and, of course, the importation into Russia were tested on a database Rosokhrankultura. Re all ten icons, along with other museum exhibits, have been fully tested in 2008 in connection with their participation in the exhibition "Return property" in the Tretyakov Gallery. Six years were on the icon of an open and accessible exposition of the museum in the center of Moscow, were on exhibition at the Tretyakov Gallery, published in three catalogs, photos of them posted on the website of the museum. Monuments have seen in a museum, thousands of people, including most of our colleagues, with no one recognized them stolen monuments, as information about the theft did not exist anywhere else. Only in December 2011 Guardian Veliky Ustyug museum, going to the accident site MRI, saw and realized ...

Then followed the sad story of the rush to private Moscow museum (on the eve of his new opening December 15) and the staff of the Chief of the Vologda Criminal Investigation Department of Internal Affairs. Not having the hands of any supporting documents (search warrants, orders for the right of withdrawal, etc.) have to remove the icon from the walls of the exposure to threats to call in case of disobedience, riot police. Naturally, the director asked to provide a set of supporting documents - most stolen as a fact, and compliance with the ten icons inventory descriptions and photographs stolen. Note that the removal of icons is not just happening in a private collection and the museum, adopted in the museum community and ICOM possessing a certain status, including accounting and inventory of the museum.

The most amazing thing about this story, that at this time in a police van was already lying sealed eleventh icon, imported from Great Ustyug as a reference for the examination, which is like a big secret, refused to show the MRI staff. At the same time the street was cold -30, the exhibits were transported in an unheated car, nor the custodian nor the security forces was not with them ... even the packaging material GosNIIR refused to take the examination for the icons, because it did not even think to warn in advance of their arrival, and order to conduct such an examination at the guardians of the law was not there. Savvy Interior Ministry representatives are sent to the Museum of Andrei Rublev, unaware of the fact that there the day it closed ... In the end, he himself, NV Zadorozhnyi persuaded the director to take GosNIIR icons on the BX, not to chase them in frost and Moscow's traffic jams. And has not carried out any work, but after quite a long time, icons are taken away in the Vologda branch in GTSHRM them. I.E.Grabarya, with the very same - reference - still no show as a great military secret. Then in early April, NV Zadorozhnyi requests the Adviser to the Minister of Culture Vladimir Petrakov go with him to Vologda, and there in the restoration workshop at the mere sight of an icon of the holiday velikoustyuzhskuyu rank realizes that the ten holidays MRI come from the same complex: this is the case when general examination was not necessary, the similarity is obvious. And at the same time with the approval of the owner of MJ Abramov, Director signed the deed of gift of ten icons in the Museum of the Great Ustyug.

It would seem that all was resolved, although, unfortunately, with huge losses, effort and hassle. However, the management of Vologda Criminal Investigation Department is outraged - it remains on the sidelines, the festival was a success, but "not on their street." At the same time, the icons at this point that a collection of MRI were in perfect preservation (this is recorded by all publications), now find themselves in a dangerous condition and required considerable restoration, respectively, which have resulted (for whom?) In the sum of 400,000 rubles.

Agree that this should have been in quite a different scenario, it would be better administration of the Museum of the Great Ustyug inform noticed the similarity of the MRI, easy to understand, compare photos, visit the official documents. And the same hour of the icon would have been worthy of its rightful owner transferred, as was the case in the history of the Museum of Russian Icons. Actually what happened ... just four months later. And some of our colleagues would not have to behave the way they were taken in this situation ... However, the matter of their own conscience.

At the time of the solemn transfer of Mikhail Abramov monuments in the Museum of the Great Governor of the Vologda region Ustyug O. Kuvshinnikov noted the great contribution to the return of both the patron and staff he founded the museum, through which the monuments have been found in the West, brought to Russia, preserved and studied, donated to the rightful owner. Then he asked for help to buy from the "German captivity" Old Testament Trinity icon Kirill Ulanov, which was stolen in 1994 from a museum Ustyuzhna.

Proper credit for its acquisition and not gaining fame gallant criminal investigation. At the time of its appearance at auction in the small German town of Lindau told me Tallinn Nikolai Merkur'ev collector, connoisseur of icons. The information that turned out quite right, was given to us in Rosokhrankultura, but by the Interpol to take an icon from a law-abiding German citizen, in no way violated the rules of acquisition, proved to be impossible.

Moreover, Walter Gunter won the case - because of the same laws of civilized and civilized state, it seemed, the fate of the icon has been solved for good. However, the Germans proved to be highly moral, and, after learning that she had stolen from the museum, expressed his wish to return it on two conditions: the icon will return only the rightful owner - Ustyuzhna regional museum (not the temple of Christ the Saviour, for example, which stores are now more icons, and stolen from Ustyuzhna not found by the SD), as well as reimbursement of all expenses that it incurred in its purchase and transport. M. Abramov Yu decided to help and donated bought an icon (for the required 25,000 euros). During the same meeting at the Great appeared Ustyug agreed that the "Old Testament Trinity," on his arrival from Germany a few months will be on display at the Museum of Russian Icons in Moscow, where she was willing to see thousands and then ceremoniously passed to the participation of the entire museum community, the press, etc. etc. - Ustyuzhna regional museum.

Preparation for transport icons lasted nearly a month: received various documents, including the Department of Culture of Vologda, confirming that the NV Zadorozhnyi Ustyuzhna acts in the interests of the museum. Was prepared in advance the act of giving Nikolai V. icon Ustyuzhna regional museum, as well as the act of transferring it from there to the museum for an exhibition of Russian icons, even the resolution of the Department of Culture of Vologda region this temporary transfer. With large and clear for all museum workers prohibitive difficulties and a half meters tall icon was brought to the Domodedovo airport. Mikhail Abramov as a true philanthropist paid all costs of transportation. Quickly and without difficulty passing the customs area, where we have waited for a representative of the Ministry of Culture, as a preliminary agreement on bringing back just the icon and all the officials were aware of what is happening, filling out the necessary customs documents and filling out the declaration of [I can not understand how HS MIA can afford to distribute the official (!) website false information about her absence, because it was the first document, which they took N.V.Zadorozhnogo like to say that the icon (and a half feet tall) was allegedly found during the inspection of personal baggage undeclared!], we went into the arrivals hall, where we were instantly surrounded by a crowd of iconographically recognizable members of the Moscow Criminal Investigation Department - fifteen people with video cameras, cameras. Note that this was an extremely well thought out and staged action. Pushing and adjusting, we are rudely escorted to the police station. Therefore, the statement MUR, that it was necessary to put them aware of the arrival in Russia (!) Stolen from her as the icon (and we already know how they behave in such cases), were hypocritical and unnecessary. The siloviki are not only all well and knew in advance, up to the flight number and identity of transport, but also bring with them significant and pre-prepared documents with photos, and were well equipped with a wide range of techniques and tools. In addition, as confirmed in today's speech, AA Avdeev, the return (not the search!) Works of art in Russia - the case of the Ministry of Culture, not the FSB, the Interior Ministry and other law enforcement agencies. So, no warnings, of course, is not legally required.

It is noteworthy that the Criminal Investigation for some reason do not want (or can not?) To justify its name and look, and even more to find the stolen value, return them to Russia. But he still knows in detail all the activities and movements of its citizens, and as a result, "is" only what is itself in its "strong" hand.

In section three by three meters in five and a half hours we were subjected to all that, what is still known only by hearsay. N.Zadorozhnomu announced the institution on a criminal case on the article, "buying stolen goods"! Icon, with which the representatives of Ministry of Interior has been accessed, as with us, without any respect, selected, and the refused to provide an instrument of seizure. Were selected and all original supporting documents, including the customs declaration, the absence of which they are now shamelessly shouting across the airwaves. Copies do not allow, in a rude manner forbidden to call on his mobile phone, especially to the authorities and representatives of the Ministry of Culture, but promised to ease in the future, "gay" life. A little later I will send all the scanned documents, most of which will have to restore the customs at Domodedovo and in Vologda Department of Culture.

Until the last hour worst of all was silence governor of the Vologda region, the museum director and Ustyuzhna Regional Department of Culture, has not yet yielded a live interview. Now, the silence became clear: as soon as that reported for the past two days for them is strong pressure from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and examination followed by an interrogation.

Such is the sad story of a very worthy and noble deed, had resulted in dirt, mud and wild lies of the entire web site available to the web. The answer to the question of who is all that was necessary, suggests itself. Obviously other things that no one of a series of already planned and carefully prepared by our acts to return home sites are now likely not to happen.

One of these days we are organizing at the Museum of Russian Icons press conference for the museum community and the press to comment on the incident and submit all documents. MB someone will offer some of the other actions.

With respect and gratitude for the attention and support,

Irina Shalina