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Russian art show one step closer Russian art show gets green light
(about 8 hours later)
A London exhibition of major Russian and French artworks is now expected to go-ahead as a new law to protect them has come into force in the UK. An exhibition of major Russian and French artworks is to go ahead in London after a law to protect them came into force in the UK.
Russia's culture agency had blocked the export of the paintings to the Royal Academy of Art until a law was implemented guaranteeing their safety. Russia's culture agency had blocked the export of the paintings to the Royal Academy of Art until a law guaranteeing their safety was implemented.
It feared they could be seized because of disputes about their ownership.It feared they could be seized because of disputes about their ownership.
The government confirmed the "immunity from seizure" legislation had been brought forward from February. A spokesman for the Russian agency told Echo Moscow radio that a licence would be issued so the exhibition could open.
From Russia: French and Russian Master Paintings is due to open at the Royal Academy of Art on 26 January.
Some of the 120 paintings included in the exhibition were taken from private collections after Russia's 1917 revolution.Some of the 120 paintings included in the exhibition were taken from private collections after Russia's 1917 revolution.
It was thought some of them could be seized to settle private legal claims.It was thought some of them could be seized to settle private legal claims.
Strained relations Immunity from seizure
The new legislation means that descendants of the original owners cannot bring forward their claims on British soil.
Anatoliy Vilkov, deputy head of Russia's cultural protection department, said the paintings would go to London as soon as any "technical questions" are resolved.
The UK government confirmed on Sunday that the "immunity from seizure" legislation had been brought forward from February.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said that Culture Secretary James Purnell had made the order to bring the legislation in on 31 December.The Department for Culture, Media and Sport said that Culture Secretary James Purnell had made the order to bring the legislation in on 31 December.
It means that descendants of the original owners cannot bring forward their claims on British soil. From Russia: French and Russian Master Paintings is due to open at the Royal Academy of Art on 26 January.
The chief executive of the Royal Academy of Arts, Charles Saumarez Smith, said he expected the Russian Federal Agency for Culture and Cinematography to give final approval to the loans on 8 January.
The exhibition is currently showing in Dusseldorf, Germany.The exhibition is currently showing in Dusseldorf, Germany.
Both the British and Russian governments have denied the clash related to the fallout from the murder of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko in London last year, which has led to strained relations between the two countries. Both the British and Russian governments have denied the clash related to the fallout from the murder of former KGB agent Alexander Litvinenko in London last year, which prompted strained relations between the two countries.