To President of the Russian Federation V. V. Putin
Elected President of the RF D. A. Medvedev
RF Government Chairman V. A. Zubkov
RF Council of Federation Chairman S. M. Mironov
RF State Duma Chairman B. V. Gryzlov
Mayor of Moscow Y. M. Luzhkov

OPEN LETTER

From workers of science, culture, and public figures of Russia to protect the International Centre of the Roerichs and the Public Museum by name of Nicholas Roerich

We apply to you due to the dramatic situation which has been formed around the International Centre of the Roerichs (hereinafter referred to as the ICR) located in the Lopukhins’ Moscow estate. At present, the ICR is threatened dispossession of the estate what will result in destruction of its Public Museum by name of Nicholas Roerich founded by the last representative of the great family – Svetoslav Roerich. Such act will violate obligations to him undertaken by the state.

S. N. Roerich’s indispensable conditions before uncompensated transfer of the priceless heritage to Russia were establishment in Moscow of a non-state Centre-Museum by name of Nicholas Roerich and its placement in the Lopukhins’ estate. The country leaders fixed their obligation in corresponding documents (Resolution of the USSR Council of Ministers dated 4.11.1989 No. 950 and Moscow Executive Committee Resolution dated 28.11.1989 No. 2248). Having made sure that the obligations undertaken to him have been fulfilled, S. N. Roerich transferred to Russia in 1990 the legacy of his parents – N. K. Roerich and H. I. Roerich which he subsequently bequeathed to the International Centre of the Roerichs. Despite their long stay beyond their Motherland, the Roerichs always aspired to deliver to Russia their accumulated creative achievements. S. N. Roerich, executing the sacred will of his parents, transferred to Russia represented by the International Centre of the Roerichs the family legacy subject to its obligation to create the N. K. Roerich Public Museum. The ICR did create such Museum. Presently, it is a famous all over the world cultural and educational Centre.

In the restored rooms of the Lopukhins’ estate, a wonderful exposition has been created which, thanks to the patrons of arts, is constantly replenished with the Roerichs’ new canvases. Mobile exhibitions of the Roerichs’ paintings from the Museum funds are organized in Russia and abroad, scientific research of the unique family archive received as part of the legacy is being conducted. Annual international conferences with participation of a wide circle of scientists and public figures are held in the Museum rooms, an extensive scientific library is operated. The International Centre of the Roerichs publishes books from the Roerich family’s legacy, periodical magazine “Kultura i Vremia” (“Culture and Time”) awarded the honorary sign “Golden Funds of the Russian Press-2008” releases films dedicated to the Roerichs’ life and creative work, organizes monthly exhibitions of modern artists, musical evenings and popular science lectures.
In the past years, without federal or municipal financing, the International Centre of the Roerichs , literally from ruins, restored and repaired the Lopukhins’ estate – monument of architecture of the 17th-19th centuries.

The International Centre of the Roerichs activities for the cause of the Russian national culture preservation has been highly appreciated by the country leaders and the public. In 2006, RF President V. V. Putin’s decree awarded ICR First Vice-President, General Director of the Public Museum by name of Nicholas Roerich L. V. Shaposhnikova with the “Order of Friendship” for her great contribution into development of museum science and preservation of cultural heritage.

In 2007, for achievements in the cause of preservation, renaissance and popularization of the Lopukhins’ estate, L. V. Shaposhnikova got National Award “Cultural Heritage” in the category of “Restorer”.

Unfortunately, during the 15-year history of the Public Museum founded by S. N. Roerich, multiple attempts to destroy it have been made. Thus, after a few months after Svetoslav Roerich’s death, RF Government Resolution No. 1121 dated 4.11.1993 was issued pursuant to which the museum was to cease its activities in the Lopukhins’ estate. It was prescribed to establish in its place the State Museum by name of Nicholas Roerich as an affiliate of the State Museum of Oriental Art. The Resolution violated the will of the donator and the state obligations to S. N. Roerich related to creation of the non-state Museum by name of Nicholas Roerich and ensuring its activities in the Lopukhins’ estate. Not a single item of that document has been fulfilled in 15 years. Nevertheless, a number of officials, in particular, Head of the Federal Agency for Culture and Cinematography M. E. Shvydkoi, are trying to reanimate this obviously unfeasible resolution.

Presently, the Moscow City Arbitration Court is examining the action of the Federal Agency for Federal Property Management against the ICR for its dispossession of the Lopukhins’ estate. Satisfaction of this action will be an illegal act aimed at the Public Museum by name of Nicholas Roerich destruction, trampling on the last will of our great compatriot, will cause irreparable damage to the national culture and to prestige of Russia in the whole world. This must not be allowed.

We apply to the leaders of Russia and Moscow with a request to prevent the illegal dispossession of the International Centre of the Roerichs of the Lopukhins’ estate and to create safe conditions for its further work and development. For this purpose, we request to transfer the Lopukhins’ estate to the International Centre of the Roerichs for uncompensated and permanent use. This will allow to exclude any attempts to destroy the Public Museum by name of Nicholas Roerich in the future.

We hope that our appeal will be heard. Without your interference, the widely recognized Centre of culture and education created in accordance with the Roerich family’s will and Svetoslav Roerich’s testament can be devastated and destroyed.

Only you can stop destruction of the most precious Museum by name of Nicholas Roerich.

Aksenova, Alisa Ivanovna – General Director of the Vladimir-and-Suzdal Conservation Museum, the RF State Award double winner, winner of the RF President’s Award

Aparina, Alevtina Victorovna – deputy of the State Duma of the Russian Federation

Afanasiev, Victor Mikhailovich – President of the International League for Protection of Culture, Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR

Velikhov, Evgeny Pavlovich – secretary of the RF Public Chamber, President of “The Kurchatov Institute” Russian scientific Centre, winner of the Lenin Prize and the State Prize of the USSR

Golovkina, ludmila Konstantinovna – Director of the Art Gallery of the city of Danilov of the Yaroslavl Region

Djanibekov, Vladimir Alexandrovich – Double Hero of the Soviet Union, Major General of Aviation, Pilot-Cosmonaut of the USSR

Drapeko, Elena Grigorievna – First Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Culture of the State Duma of the Russian Federation

Yegorov, Voctor Alexandrovich – General Director of association “Dialogue-Conversion”, Candidate of Technical Sciences, Director of the Modern Museum of Sport, Honored Master of Sports, Honored Coach of the USSR in Climbing and Mountaineering

Izvekov, Vladimir Georgiyevich – Director of the Museum of History of the city of Yaroslavl

Karpov, Anatoly Evgenievich – President of the World Foundations International Association, multiple World Champion in chess

Krainov, Nikolai Petrovich – Director of Sports Complex “Yunost” (“Youth”), from 1981 to 1985 – President of the USSR Rock-Climbing Federation, Master of Sports of the USSR, the Soviet Union Champion in Climbing and Mountaineering

Kuznetsov, Oleg Leonidovich – President of the RANS (Russian Academy of Natural Sciences), Professor, the USSR State Prize Winner

Maksakova, Ludmila Vassilievna – actress of the Evg. Vakhtangov State Academic Theatre, People’s Artist of the RSFSR, winner of the State Prize of the Russian Federation

Malanicheva, Galina Ivanovna – Chairman of the Central Council of All-Russian Public Organization “All-Russian Society for Protection of Monuments of History and Culture”, member of the Council for Culture and Art under the President of Russia

Myslovsky, Eduard Vikentievich – Professor of the N. E. Bauman Moscow State Technical University, Chief of Department “Design and Technology of Radio-Electronic Means” in the Moscow State Academy of Instrument-Making Informatics, President of the Eurasian Association of Rock-Climbing and Mountaineering

Petrov, Nikolai Arnoldovich – President of the Academy of Russian Art, People’s Artist of the USSR

Press, Tamara Nathanovna – member of the Council for Physical Culture under the President of Russia, First Deputy Chairman of the Olympic Champions Council under the Rossport (Russian Sports) Agency, Candidate of Pedagogy, Docent

Selezneva, Ekaterina Leonidovna – President of the International Council of Museums (ICOM of Russia)

Spivakov, Vladimir Theodorovich – President of the Moscow International House of Music, Artistic Director and Chief Conductor of the National Orchestra of Russia

Tabakov, Oleg Pavlovich – Artistic Director of the A. P. Chekhov Moscow Academic Art Theatre and Moscow Theatre-Studio “Tabakerka”, member of the Council for Culture and Art under the President of Russia, People’s Artist of the USSR, winner of the USSR and RF State Prizes, double winner of National Award “Golden Mask”

Filatov, Sergey Alexandrovich – President of the Foundation of Social-and-Economic and Intellectual Programs, President of the Russian Intellectuals Congress

Chelyshev, Evgeny Petrovich – RAS (Russian Academy of Science) Academician, J. Nehru Award Winner, Demidov Award Winner

Chukov, Vladimir Semenovich – Director of Expedition Centre “Arktika”, Full Member of the Russian Geographic Society, Master of Sports of International Class, Honored Master of Sports

The point of view of Roshal, Leonid Mikhailovich – Head of Extreme Surgery Department of the Scientific Research Institute of Pediatrics of the RAMS (Russian Academy of Medical Science) Children’s Health Scientific Centre: “I find the liquidation of the International Centre of the Roerichs and the Public Museum by name of Nicholas Roerich immoral ”.
Member of the Public Chamber of the RF L. M. Roshal

Signatures still keep coming

10.04.2008