Ukraine police find Impressionist painting stolen in France
The Associated Press04/23/19, 14:14
The 1915 painting "Port of La Rochelle" by Paul Signac, stolen from the Museum of Fine Arts in Nancy, France last year, is seen at a briefing in Ukraine's Interior Ministry in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Ukrainian police have recovered a painting by French Impressionist Paul Signac stolen from a French museum.
Police chief Serhiy Knyazev said the 1915 painting depicting the port of La Rochelle was found in the possession of a man who was arrested in Kiev on suspicion of involvement in a killing.
The painting, estimated to be worth 1.5 million euros ($1.7 million), was stolen from The Museum of Fine Arts in the city of Nancy last May.
A policeman guards the 1915 painting “Port of La Rochelle” by Paul Signac, stolen from the Museum of Fine Arts in Nancy, France last year, at a briefing in Ukraine ‘s Interior Ministry in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Knyazev said Tuesday that several Ukrainians suspected of involvement in the theft were arrested. Police believe that the same suspects could have been involved in the theft of a painting by Auguste Renoir in Vienna last year.
The French ambassador to Kiev, Isabelle Dumont, thanked the Ukrainian police for recovering the painting.
A policeman guards the 1915 painting “Port of La Rochelle” by Paul Signac, stolen from the Museum of Fine Arts in Nancy, France last year, at a briefing in Ukraine ‘s Interior Ministry in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Avakov, left, and French Ambassador to Ukraine Isabelle Dumont pose for a photo with the 1915 painting “Port of La Rochelle” by Paul Signac, stolen from the Museum of Fine Arts in Nancy, France last year, at a briefing in Ukraine ‘s Interior Ministry in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)A policeman guards the 1915 painting “Port of La Rochelle” by Paul Signac, stolen from the Museum of Fine Arts in Nancy, France last year, at a briefing in Ukraine ‘s Interior Ministry in Kiev, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)