Three artifacts confiscated in Vienna return to Czech galleries

Prague, Nov 23 (CTK) - The three artifacts that were confiscated while displayed in Vienna in May in connection with Diag Human's dispute with the Czech state are back in the Moravian Gallery in Brno and the National Gallery in Prague, the galleries' representatives told CTK Wednesday.

The artifacts are paintings by Czech artists Emil Filla and Vincenc Benes from 1913 adn 1912, respectively, and a sculpture by Otto Gutfreund from 1914.

Martina Vaskova, from the Brno gallery, said Filla's painting will be examined to see in what condition it is and it could go on display on Thursday again.

Benes and Gutfreund's works will be placed in a depository, Eva Kolerusova, spokeswoman for the Prague gallery, said adding it is not possible to say when they will be displayed.

The artifacts were first distrained within the almost 20-year-long dispute between Diag Human and the Czech Republic over allegedly marred lucrative deals with blood plasma.

Diag Human claims compensation of some 10 billion crowns including interests.

The decision to return the works of art to the Czech Republic was made by the director of the Belvedere Museum in Vienna based on last week's decision of the Vienna Land Court that said the previously ordered distraint is null, the Austrian news agency APA wrote on Tuesday.

Diag Human can still appeal the latest verdict.

The Czech Culture Ministry issued a ban on loans of artifacts to world exhibitions out of fear of Diag Human's claims in the spring.

The sector has lost almost 1.2 million crowns in six months, Czech Radio-Radiozurnal has said.

The sum does not include the costs of foreign partner institutions.

Stanislav Brunclik, spokesman for the Culture Ministry, told the radio that the case has not only caused a financial loss, but it has also harmed the good name of the Czech Republic that used to loan items from its collections to the world without any problem.

The Czech Republic was to loan 1149 works of art to 58 large world exhibitions, including in London, Houston and Paris, this year and in 2012.

Some exhibitions have been cancelled over the absence of Czech loans.