The Roerich Museum with a collection worth several hundred million dollars is being evicted from its building on Maly Znamensky Lane

An open letter from representatives of public organizations in Russia and abroad

Deputy Minister of Economic Development of the Russian Federation -
head of the federal agency
for the management of state property
OK. Dergunova

Dear Olga Konstantinovna!

Representatives of public organizations are writing to you in connection with their concern about the fate of the International Center of the Roerichs (ICR) and its public Museum named after Nicholas Roerich, which are located in the Lopukhins' Moscow estate, an architectural monument of the 17th-19th centuries. (Maly Znamensky per., 3/5).

On November 24, 2015, the Moscow Arbitration Court will consider the claim of the Federal Property Management Agency for the eviction of the ICR from the Lopukhins' estate. If it is satisfied, the well-known cultural center of Russia and its public Museum, which has the world's largest collection of paintings by the Roerichs, will be left without a roof over their heads. It is hard to imagine that the collection of paintings of world significance by the great Russian artist N.K. Roerich worth several hundred million dollars, a unique archive and priceless museum collections collected all over the world by the museum patrons will be deprived of their home by a ruthless court decision.

The ICR eviction case has been going on since 2008, and we hoped that after the transfer of the Lopukhin estate to the Moscow government, the Federal Property Management Agency would withdraw the claim against the International Center of the Roerichs. But in October 2015, the buildings of the estate were transferred to the ownership of the Russian Federation, in accordance with the order of the Government of Moscow No. 614-RP, and the likelihood of the ICR being evicted from the Lopukhins' estate again became a reality.

We believe that such actions violate the obligations of the state, enshrined in the Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR "On the Soviet Roerich Foundation and the Center-Museum named after Nicholas Roerich" dated November 4, 1989 No. 950 and the Decision of the Executive Committee of the Moscow Council dated November 28, 1989 No. 2248 The Decree of the Council of Ministers of the USSR refers to the provision of assistance to ministries and departments in the "implementation of humanistic tasks" of the Center-Museum, on the release of the organization "from paying taxes, state duties and other types of fees." If the court satisfies the claim of the Federal Property Management Agency, the will of S. N. Roerich, which he expressed, in particular, in a letter dated 10.22. in the transfer of the Lopukhins' estate ... to the balance or long-term lease ... to the International Center of the Roerichs.

As you know, the International Center of the Roerichs was founded by Svyatoslav Nikolaevich Roerich and created by a team of professionals under the leadership of the well-known cultural figure Lyudmila Vasilievna Shaposhnikova. The indispensable conditions of S.N. N.K. Roerich and his placement in the Lopukhins' estate.

The ICR carried out the restoration of an old city estate, literally recreating it from ruins at the expense of the public and thanks to the help of a patron, thereby making an invaluable contribution to the protection of Moscow's monuments. This work was marked by Russian and international awards. In 2007, for merits in the preservation, revival and popularization of the Lopukhins' estate, the General Director of the Museum, L.V. Shaposhnikova, was awarded the National Prize "Cultural Heritage" in the nomination "Restorer", and in 2010 preservation of the cultural heritage of "EUROPA NOSTRA".

The International Center of the Roerichs adequately represents Russia at the international level. His peacekeeping and cultural activities abroad were highly praised by UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova, who visited the Nicholas Roerich Museum in May 2015.

The ICR is an important partner of UNESCO in the preservation of world cultural heritage, as evidenced by the successful implementation of the international exhibition project “The Roerich Pact. History and Modernity".

Center-Museum is called the pride of Russia. Many people dream of visiting here. It is recognized as the largest center for the study and promotion of the Roerichs' heritage, a unique social form of culture and education in Russia. In its activities, the ICR unites the public not only in our country, but also in the near and far abroad.

Is the state, on behalf of which the Federal Property Management Agency acts in this situation, not interested in strengthening and supporting a public organization that asserts through its activities the status of Russia in the world as a country of great culture?!

Both the testament of S. N. Roerich, and the heroic history of the creation of the ICR, and his noble humanitarian activity have become firmly established in the memory of more than one generation. The Center-Museum, created by the Russian and foreign public in the disastrous 1990s, deserves respect and careful attitude from the Federal Agency headed by you.

S.N. Roerich entrusted Russia with an invaluable cultural heritage. He was fully confident in the support of the ICR from the Russian people and state structures. S. N. Roerich's trust should not be ignored.

The letter was signed by: International Council of Roerich Organizations named after S. N. Roerich (Russia, Moscow); Khakass Regional Public Organization of the Roerichs' Followers (Russia, Khakassia, Abakan); Tatarstan Cultural Association (Russia, Tatarstan, Kazan); People's Library named after Helena Ivanovna Roerich (Russia, Altai Republic, Ust-Koksa village); Kharkiv Regional Association "Center for Humane Pedagogy" (Ukraine, Kharkiv); Tashkent Society of the Roerichs (Uzbekistan, Tashkent); German Roerich Society (Germany, Remscheid); branch of the International League for the Defense of Culture (Canada, Montreal); Tien Shan Society of the Roerichs (Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek); Borisov public association "Culture and Knowledge" (Belarus, Borisov); Estonian Roerich Society (Estonia, Tallinn) and others, total 60 public organizations of Russia, Germany, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Estonia, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Canada.

Signatures keep coming.