On some issues related to the movement of museum objects and (or) museum collections across the border of the Republic of Belarus

On July 10, President of the Republic of Belarus signed into action Decree No 435 “On some issues related to the movement of museum objects and (or) museum collections across the border of the Republic of Belarus.”

The Decree introduces a ban on the exportation for permanent deposition of museum objects and collections included into the Museum Fund of the Republic of Belarus, with the exception of the cases when cultural values of other states are officially returned back or in case an exchange in effectuated for objects and collections from foreign museums. In both cases, the transaction takes place upon decision of the Government based on a request from the Ministry of Culture, with the availability of a written agreement between the respective Belarusian and foreign museum.

The adoption of this document will make it possible to preserve the intellectual and cultural heritage of the Belarusian people, to establish the state-guided control over the movement of museum objects and collections across the border of the Republic of Belarus.

The Decree shall enter into force on the date of its official publication.

Please see the full text of the Decree in the Russian version of the site.