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Judgment On Russian Jewish Library Threatens Loans of Paintings To U.S. Museums

By Howard M. Friedman

As previously reported, last year the D.C. federal district court entered a default judgment against the Russian Federation ordering it to return two collections of valuable religious books and manuscripts to Agudas Chasidei Chabad. Russia refused to participate in the proceedings claiming that U.S. courts lack authority to enter orders with respect to property in Russia owned by the Russian government. (See prior posting.) Yesterday the New York Times reported that last year's default judgment against Russia is leading to cancellation of promised loans of art from Russian museums to those in the U.S. for several upcoming art shows.  Russian cultural officials are telling Russian state-owned museums that they risk their artwork being seized in the U.S. to enforce the court order regarding Chabad's book collections. U.S. authorities are trying to convince the Russians that U.S. law (22 USC Sec. 2249) grants immunity from judicial process for artwork on loan from foreign countries.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on February 03, 2011 (boomark / email).