Russian billionaire Konstantin Malofeev / Photo from bbc.com
Bosnian journalists suggest that Russian billionaire Konstantin Malofeev might be involved in the illegal relocation of an ancient Ukrainian icon from Russia-occupied Donbas to Sarajevo, which was later handed over to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov as a gift.
This was reported by BBC News Ukrainian referring to a corresponding report by investigative journalists.
Konstantin Malofeev is a fan of religious works of art. He also owns the Tsargrad website, which spreads Kremlin propaganda. He was also suspected of involvement in sponsoring Russia-controlled illegal formations in Donbas.
Journalists investigated activities of his so-called the Saint Basil the Great Charitable Foundation. Over the years, the Russian billionaire was generous and reportedly gave away icons to his closest allies. He also met with the Serb member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Milorad Dodik, several times.
21:20, 20.12.20 World 730
There are signs showing the icon is of Ukrainian origin and had been stolen from the war-torn region in Donbas.
112 Ukraine
Russia announced on December 19 that it is returning a centuries-old Orthodox icon that was given to Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov during his latest visit after Ukrainian diplomats claimed it was a protected treasure smuggled from Ukraine. The icon will be returned to its donors for further clarification on its history via Interpol, the Russian Foreign Ministry told journalists, according to RFE/RL.
An image of the artifact and its seal had suggested it might be from the Ukrainian city of Luhansk, which has been under the occupation of Russian-controlled forces since 2014.
European Pravda
The Ukrainian Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina has demanded explanations from Sarajevo after Russia s top diplomat Sergei Lavrov during his visit received a 300-year-old Ukrainian icon, originally from Luhansk, as a present from local authorities.
That s according to Europeiska Pravda, referring to the Klix.ba news site.
It is alleged that one of the members of Bosnia and Herzegovina s Presidium, head of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik, presented the icon to Lavrov on December 14 while Russia s foreign minister was on a working visit.
The local news site says the embassy requested information on the origin of the 300-year-old icon, which was allegedly originally discovered in Luhansk.
14:42 17.12.2020
Ukrainian Embassy sends note to Bosnia-Herzegovina MFA because of its present of 300-year-old Ukrainian icon from Luhansk to Russian MFA head – media 1 min read
The Ukrainian Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina has sent a note to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina asking for detailed information about why the 300-year-old Ukrainian icon was presented to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Radio Liberty said. According to local media s statements, the Ukrainian Embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina sent the note to the government in Sarajevo, demanding to immediately and unequivocally find out how the gilded icon from Luhansk ended up in the country, Radio Liberty said on its website on Thursday.