Museum in St. Petersburg Facing Fine for Showing ‘Nazi Propaganda’ Painting by Belarusian Artist

St. Petersburg’s Erarta Museum – which holds the largest private collection of contemporary art in Russia – is staring down a raft of administrative charges after exhibiting a painting that Russian authorities say contains “Nazi symbols.”

The case was brought on July 12 before the Vasilevsky District Court in the west of St. Petersburg, where the museum is located, although it’s not clear when the authorities pressed the charges. A hearing has not yet been scheduled.

Daria Lebedeva, the head of press for the city’s court system, said the case relates to a painting titled Festival by the Belarusian artist Sergei Grinevich. The work, which was added to Erarta’s permanent collection in 2016, portrays dancers in traditional Belarusian outfits behind a trio of suited security guards.

The Belarusian phrase “Zyvie Bielarus!” (“Long Live Belarus!”) reportedly appeared under the painting in 2020 and has remained since. The words were widely chanted by Belarusians protesting against the re-election of the country’s president Alexander Lukashenko, an ally of Vladimir Putin, in 2020 amid allegations that the vote was rigged.

Brutal crackdowns by Lukashenko followed with scores of protestors beaten and imprisoned.

“Experts concluded that this slogan was the symbol of [two collaborationist units during World War II] along with the Nazi party greeting,” Lebedeva wrote on Telegram.

Grinevich has previously accused the authorities in his home country of censorship.

If found guilty, Erarta – which has not publicly commented on the case – may be made to pay a fine of up to 50,000 rubles ($567) and hand over the painting to the police.