Azerbaijan prevents exportation of cultural property

In 2007-2011, the Azerbaijani customs officials prevented the export of 490 items that are of cultural value, including books, carpets, daggers, swords, and various sculptures, musical instruments, samovars, coins, etc.

Customs Committee’s official, Major-General of Customs Service Guloglan Muradli said the customs officials confiscated hundreds of ancient manuscripts, icons and other cultural values.

All of them were handed over to the Institute of Manuscripts. M. Fuzuli of ANAS, the Museum of Art, Nakhchivan State Carpet Museum, Department of Caucasus Muslims, the mosque of Taza Pir, temples of the Russian Orthodox church in Baku, the Roman Catholic Church and other organizations.
 
Five ancient icons that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev presented to Russian President Dmitry Medvedev during his visit to Azerbaijan in 2011 were also seized from smugglers by the customs officers. Part of the seized samples is stored as valuable art exhibits at the History Museum of the State Customs Committee.
 

/Trend/