Aliev hands over to Medvedev five Orthodox icons

Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliev has handed over to his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev five Orthodox icons which were confiscated by Azerbaijani customs officials at the checkpoints. 

The icons were handed over to Medvedev at the presidential residence of Ilham Aliev, where talks between the leaders of the two countries were held.

“The icons were on the way from Russia as contraband property. The customs officials detained those persons who tried to cross the border with icons. We are handing over these icons to you because they must be kept in your country,” said Aliev.

President Medvedev thanked Aliev and said that “this was a friendly step.” He said: “We appreciate it.”

Russian President’s Special Envoy for International Cultural Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy said that the five icons, of them part in silver and golden frames as Russian experts say can come from the early 19th century.

The icons were likely stolen from a Russian monastery. The final evaluation of the cost and condition of the icons will be conducted by specialists and experts of the Russian Committee for the Protection of Cultural Property who will travel to Baku for this purpose.