Stolen in Russia, Aivazovsky`s painting was at the disposal of the  family of the former president of Armenia - the investigation finds  out

ArmInfo. The Investigative Committee of Armenia instituted a criminal investigation into the acquisition and sale of Aivazovsky's painting "Ship at sea". It is a picture, the acquisition of which is connected with the Pyunik Fund,  headed by the brother of ex-President Serzh Sargsyan - Levon Sargsyan  and the President presented to them.

According to the press service of the department, measures are being  taken at the Main Directorate for especially important cases and  fighting corruption, crimes against property and cybercrimes of the  Investigative Committee (SC) of the Republic of Armenia to clarify  the circumstances of the acquisition of the painting "Ship at sea" by  Ivan (Hovhannes) Aivazovsky.

It is noted that according to preliminary data, in 2017, on the  official website of the charity fund Pyunik, information was  published on the donation of the canvas of the great seascape to the  third president of Armenia. After that, publications appeared in the  media about the fact that the canvas was stolen.

"During the preparation of materials, data were extracted that on  January 13, 2011, from the house of the head of the corporation"  Russian Gold "Alexandra Tarantseva during the robbery, the pictures  were stolen, including the painting by Aivazovsky "Ship at sea",  which is of particular value, the ministry said.

Investigative and other measures are carried out to find out all the  circumstances of the acquisition of the picture. It should be noted  that the Pyunik Foundation reported that "the President of the  country handed over a valuable gift to the Historical Museum of  Armenia." Later it became known that it is not in the Historical  Museum or in the National Gallery of Armenia, but now the message  that the President of Armenia Serge Sargsyan received from the fund a  picture of Aivazovsky "A Ship at Sea" from the site of the Pyunik  Fund was deleted.