The National Tracing and Asset Management Agency (ARMA) has initiated the transfer of 149 seized works of art belonging to the family of Viktor Medvedchuk to the National Art Museum of Ukraine. The agency's press service reported this on August 1, 2025.
These are paintings, icons and other artistic objects that were expertly assessed by specialists of the National Art Museum in 2024. The experts confirmed that the works have significant cultural value. In particular, among them are works by classics of the Transcarpathian school of painting: Joseph Bokshay, Gavril Gluck, Adalbert Erdeli.
The transfer was made possible by amendments to the ARMA law, which entered into force on July 30, 2025. From now on, culturally valuable seized assets can be transferred to state museums, libraries, archives or reserves without a competition - only by decision of the Cabinet of Ministers. ARMA has already addressed the Government with a corresponding initiative, relying on the new Article 21-1 of the Law.
A total of 285 paintings were seized in the case. ARMA initiated an examination to determine which of them were of historical and artistic value. As a result, 149 works were recognized as part of the national cultural heritage.
This step is not only an important signal to society, but also a real-life example of how property acquired through corruption can return to people in the form of preserved cultural heritage.
