Report: Ukraine “doing nothing” to recover stolen Dutch art

The Ukraine is not taking the investigation into Dutch art seriously stolen from the Westfries museum in 2015 seriously. The art, which was discovered to be in the Ukraine last year, is still being offered for sale, according to EenVandaag. Stolen art hunters Arthur Brand and Alex Omhoff are on the track of an Ukrainian in the Netherlands who they believe payed a key part in this case. They tipped off the police about his whereabouts, according to the Telegraaf.

The 24 stolen 17th century paintings surfaced in the Ukraine last year when former militia leader Borys Hoemenjoek tried to sell them back to the Westfries museum for 50 million euros. He broke off contact when Brand, who was hired by the museum to act as intermediary, told him that the paintings are only worth 50 thousand euros.

EenVandaag broadcast an interview with lawyer Yuri Volushin, a friend of Hoemenjoek. In the interview the lawyer admits to a journalist that he is trying to sell one of the paintings - Boerenbruiloft (Country Wedding in English) by Hendrik Bogaert. The painting Keukenstuk (Kitchen Piece) by Floris van Schooten is also still for sale in the illegal circuit.

Brand states that he passed the names of those involved in this art theft on to the Ukrainian authorities, but nothing is being done about it.