Stolen Dutch paintings searched in Ukraine

Stolen Dutch paintings searched in Ukraine

Ukraine's Interior Ministry has begun searching for Dutch paintings stolen back in 2005, Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin reveals.

Klimkin claimed that some actions by the museum had hindered the search.

"I hope that it will have no impact [on the results of the Dutch referendum on the Ukraine-EU association] and we will demonstrate the success [of the investigation] before the referendum starts.

Arthur Brand representing the West Friesland Museum claimed that a collection, composed of 24 paintings, stolen in 2005 was held by a OUN (Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists) battalion that attempted to trade these pieces of art for EUR 50 million. The battalion has connections "at the very top political level", Brand says.