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Returning Former Property?

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Forum Admin:

--- Quote ---Along Antonio's line....does the possibility exist that the Russian government "might" give back some of the stolen estates or family possessions???  I'm sure once they started there may be no stopping.  :-/
--- End quote ---

This deserves its own topic so I moved it here. It is not related to the Rasputin thread it was posted in.

Antonio_P.Caballer:
I was once told in Petersburg that the Sheremetiev Palace along with other palaces was being claimed by the family...but i´m not sure it´s true. Princess Paley had a hard time when her and her husband grand duke Paul´s art collection from the Paley palace in Tsarskoe was sold by auction in London on June 6th- 7th and July 1th-2th of 1929. She even was photographed in the auction showroom, seated by her clavecin, that had belonged to Queen Marie Antoinette...She simply couldn´t stop the sale.
The Stroganov collection was also sold, this time by the Lepke´s auction house in Berlin in May 6th,9th, and 11th of 1931.
Many times the things went for very low prices or even were left without buyer. A sad destiny for so many great art collections and the empied palaces left behind...

Antonio.

Jmentanko:
This is worth looking at . . . maybe ;)

http://www.news-star.com/stories/031298/lfe_russian.html

Reed:
Interesting article.  I noticed it was published in 1998.  I wonder if there have been any further developments on a law regarding restitution?  It must be heart breaking to see your ancestral home in ruins!!

3710:
I have not heard about any restitution laws so far.
Antonio, imagine for a second that Scheremetiev Palace is returned to it's rightful owners(?). Who can afford the maintenance of such piece of real estate now? The remaining contents(there is not much, I must admit) will soon be in Nick's office or, if Russia is lucky, bought by another Vekselberg. There is a rather nice music museum there with a concert hall now, much enjoyed by all.
If it was a residential building, what do you suggest should be done to inhabitants? In Latvia people were just kicked out of houses they lived in for a long time (surely investing something in renovation etc) How fair is that?
I have huge respect for the first wave of immigration, but not so sure that their distant relations can claim something now (Like Xenia Sfiris).
Can I also mention that it was  not just Romanovs/aristocracy who have lost property in Soviet times. Think of ''raskulachivanie'' - millions of peasants were effected. On the subject of which - should I insist on my grandfather's 3 cows and a house to be returned? I think I will manage without........
Mescherskie were lucky to be well received by local residents. Imagine if the land they claim has been in use etc? No, it smells another redestribution/Revolution. We had enough.
Galina

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