«And at home, and married"
I can not judge about the role of George Kostaki in the history of art of the twentieth century. Experts say that it is unique: objectively, it is the man kept the works which by their ignorance of the Soviet authorities were doomed. But I'm not an art critic and former security service officer and the events I look at my corner.
About Costacis I first heard after returning from the British trip, when he began working in the department, who was responsible, in particular, foreign journalists and UPDK - Office of General Services of the diplomatic corps. "Clever Greek", "old fox" - so spoke about the man colleagues. But sounded a note of respect in his voice.
Kostaki was "at home and married. Moskvich, but a citizen of Greece. Humble servant - and bohemians. Lived richly. Where is the money? Well you never know ... Ancestral commercial talent. Plus links. Worked in the embassies in fact - but that will take her away from Russia to the memory of a foreign diplomat? No tape as "Yauza"! But in the Soviet Union were half-disgraced painters - not recognized at home, they traded high in the West. Here modest office manager of the Canadian Embassy became a key figure. In dipsoobschestve its people, with local artists - entirely of his pals.
Was there a George Dionisovichu interest in our department? Of course, in any country, local residents, working with foreign diplomats, are in the field of intelligence. Because it is not surprising that Kostaki mentioned, for example, now declassified summaries of the NKVD in 1941: there was a war, we were important to know what they say in the embassies, and that's flashing phrases like "the Greek ambassador said Officer Kostaki that ...." But in my time "clever Greeks" a remarkable set. It seems to be a famous collection - a hook on which it can hold. On the other hand, it - and shield. Push - and this is not pressure on UPDK humble servant, but on the world-renowned collector of paintings. Who needs a scandal?
But the scandal still happened - in 1977.
What do you mean we?
At George Kostaki recently just had a birthday - 95 years. In this connection, I decided to brush up on facts about which then heard in passing. He began to view memories of him, interview relatives, friends. That's what builds up a picture.
In mid-1970 Kostaki, according to him, he suddenly noticed that he had fallen "under the hood" - like phone bugged, someone is following behind the machine. It is connected with the fact that the world began a surge of interest in Russian avant-garde and the collection Costacis talk in the West. Then one after another, followed by two stolen: in the absence of the owners of the apartments lost some work (but not those on the walls and so conspicuous, and of the folders in the reserves, so that the abduction did not immediately detected). Next - Winter 1977-th. Robbing and burning of his summer residence in Bakovka. And now the thieves are not interested in the avant-garde, and icons. Kostaki wrote indignant letters to Brezhnev, Andropov. In response to begin the night obscene phone calls with threats satires in the newspapers, show and watched. In the end, Kostaki serves at checkout. Next - bargain with the Ministry of Culture of his collection (which will be offered to leave, that allowed to take out), but that's another story.
The main enemy Kostaki, chief organizer of the snares - the KGB.
Of course, our company's history, such that any dog can hang. But not for the protection of his uniform, but simply from the standpoint of common sense - just the KGB was interested to Kostaki sat himself quietly in Moscow, quietly collecting pictures and do not make a fuss. Moreover, he said, the collection and so he was going to bequeath to the state. I remember the evil tongues said then that "clever Greeks" simply have decided to break from the Union and arranged samopodzhog. Ashamed, to me then, too, so it seemed. Another, less likely, but allowed version - the machinations Shchelokova, the then Minister of Internal Affairs. He's also collected paintings and the methods, without further ado. I remember in a provincial museum director showed me on the wall: "Here we have one hanging cloth, yes Shchelokov ordered to send to Moscow. And there - in the end. "
But, perhaps, a collection Costacis was the victim of an entirely different plot.
Mysterious Englishman
ALREADY in Greece in an interview Kostaki said: "A few days later (after the robbery and giving a letter to Andropov) called me (the KGB) and asked not to worry: the man whom I suspect interrogation, and the truth will prevail. I soon learned that the alleged thief is going to go to his wife in England. I reported this to authorities, but I was told that it can not detain, as an English citizen. It was a blatant lie. I knew that he had a Soviet passport, and a foreigner was only his wife. The robber left, and theft, of course, not disclosed.
Some supposedly an Englishman in the Soviet era roam between Moscow and London, is suspected of stealing paintings, and the KGB assigns blow? Nonsense ...
But it was such a man I knew. Everyone thought his subjects in Britain, although he was our citizen. But his wife - yes, English. And for the KGB, this man was of particular value. I already wrote about it in the pages of Sciences »(№ 45-46, 2007): Victor Louis - the biggest ace Soviet ideological operations.
When it was necessary to neutralize another anti-Soviet propaganda campaign (the memoirs of Khrushchev, Svetlana Alliluyeva, Solzhenitsyn and others), the KGB turned to an intelligent, resourceful, Louis. He represented the USSR in the British newspaper "Evening News" was regarded as an independent journalist. Through it duly filed our counter-arguments reach the West. In gratitude, Louis was allowed to live there in luxury and contentment. I remember his magnificent mansion in Peredelkino - swimming pool, sculpture ... and he collected icons - the "black lists" occupied by the wall from floor to ceiling.
Of two evils ...
If Costacis really had in mind Louis - will put forward his version of events.
... I do not think that the first theft from Costacis had a relationship, our organization: "outdoor advertising" KGB if there were someone else - you will not notice if the phone listening to - it is not zasechesh. It could be someone from competitors Costacis on collecting. But along the way to those concerned indulges, for example, a rumor that enraged "Greek" was about to leave. The rumor comes to Louis. And that - among collectors logic! - Frightened that rare icons, which had had its own species (to buy, exchange), will go to the West. Louis revolved around "luyata" - black-marketeers, currency dealers. They could easily charge "to do" cottage Kostaki.
Well then ... The victim wrote to the KGB, directly report their suspicions. Must respond. But Louis - in a special account, he has done so much and still do for the Committee! Put a brake does not work - stung Costacis starts giving interviews to Western reporters. Ah well! At this point our pressure really starts to intimidate. Effect of the reverse: "Greek" actually decides to leave. Well, maybe it is for the better. Only if Kandinsky to Malevich's really worth all that money, we should at least something we hold (by the way, the export abroad of works of art, privately-owned, in many countries around the world by hook or by crook difficult).
Once again: what I say - version. But today, even the little that George Kostaki managed to take out the USSR, is the basis of the museum in Thessaloniki. Even so - sorry. Could we be.
The fate of the collector
GEORGE Dionisovich Costacis born in 1913 in the family of a Greek merchant, who lived in Russia. After the revolution, the family remained in the Soviet Union, retaining the Greek citizenship. Muscovite by birth, a man of Russian culture, G. Costacis whole life working in foreign diplomatic missions in the USSR: the driver started the Greek Embassy, graduated from the administrator in the Canadian. From his youth gathered his famous collection of paintings: first, they were ancient icons, the small Dutch ", then switched to Russian avant-garde. He bought the masters, who in the Soviet Union officially recognized, and years later turned out to be: Costacis - holds a priceless, one of the world's finest collection of modern art.
After the events described G. Costacis went to the West. Permission was provided: the main part of the collection remains in the USSR. He died in Greece in 1990godu.
http://www.argumenti.ru/publications/7246
22.04.2009, 18:07
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