$50 Million “Antiquities” Shipment Arrives in Panama
In April 2018, three packages were shipped to Panama from Russia. Despite the unwrapped contents of two of the packages weighing less than 200 grams each, it was recorded that they are extremely valuable. Shipping documents recorded the value of the packages as $55,063 and $163,089 respectively. The third and probably most fascinating package was recorded as weighing 65.13 kilograms unwrapped and was the most valuable at $46,862,560. Later, in January 2019, yet another package was sent. It weighed 472 grams and was valued at $177,618.
Can the Mystery of What’s Inside Be Unraveled?
Upon closer inspection, the shipping documents not only listed the value of the mysterious items, but also gave some clues about what they are. Classified as “antiquities” that are older than a century, the items were listed as being shipped from Rosizo in Moscow to Lamesa Arts Inc. in Panama. Rosizo is an organization linked to the Russian Ministry of Culture, and Lamesa Arts Inc. is a Panama-based company owned by Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg. Known for his love for Fabergé eggs, Vekselberg has a net worth of around $13 billion. In early April, the oligarch was placed under sanctions imposed by the government of the United States. Interestingly, the record for the heaviest item’s trademark listed it as “Fabergé Russia.”
The Prestigious House of Fabergé
Since 1842 when it was first launched, the House of Fabergé has produced countless works of art, most notably the iconic artist-jeweler’s signature eggs. Peter Carl Fabergé’s unique brand became synonymous with royalty as early as 1885 when Czar Alexander III gave his wife Maria an Easter egg crafted by Fabergé. This became an imperial tradition as the Russian royal family continued to collect the exquisite jeweled eggs. Around 69 were eventually produced. During the Russian Revolution, these eggs were dispersed around the world until only around 46 remained.
Reclamation in the Name of Russia
After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Viktor Vekselberg began recovering the Fabergé eggs around the world and bringing them back home to Russia. Because of this, the oligarch owns more of these eggs than anybody else in the world. In 2004, he bought nine from the Forbes family for around $100 million and in 2013, he opened the Fabergé Museum in Saint Petersburg to display the eggs alongside other cultural artworks. Vekselberg loved the brand so much he even attempted to win rights to it in court. The oligarch sued Brian Gilbertson, a South African mining tycoon, for the rights to Fabergé after he unsuccessfully tried to buy the brand for his wife for Christmas. According to Vekselberg, he was squeezed out of the deal by Gilbertson, who claimed that he backed out of it due to last-ditch demands.
Did Vekselberg Ship His Eggs to Panama?
Since the shipping documentation seemed to be less than 100% transparent, it is unclear exactly what “antiquities” the packages contained. Given the range of decorative items produced by Fabergé, the celebrated eggs may still be back home in Russia. For all we know, the packages could have contained other Fabergé treasures. In July 2019, the Russian culture minister announced that Rosizo would no longer be responsible for all exhibitions. Because the museum where the antiquities are usually on display closed indefinitely in March 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it is not known whether the Fabergé collection falls under this umbrella.
Caught in the Rising Tide of US/Russia Tensions
In 2017, Viktor Vekselberg attended the American president’s swearing-in ceremony alongside his cousin, Andrew Intrater, who lives in America and reportedly made a $250,000 donation to Trump’s reelection fund. As reported by Bloomberg News, Vekselberg was making assurances to colleagues and Russian leaders that he wielded influence in the White House under President Trump’s command. A spokesperson for Russian President Vladimir Putin denied allegations that Vekselberg had any clout in American politics.
Weathering the Storm
Contentions aside, by the end of the year, Russian oligarchs began disposing of assets in anticipation of sanctions from America. At the time, Vekselberg sold a significant chunk of his shares in a Petropavlovsk mining firm. By April 2018, Vekselberg was questioned by a special team from the United States, and a range of new sanctions were imposed on select Russian oligarchs, including Vekselberg and his holding company, Renova Group. The sanctions were ostensibly placed to punish Moscow for injurious activities, such as alleged election meddling.
Although the oligarch was not accused of interfering in the 2016 US election, it was reported that Vekselberg became concerned that his family would not inherit any of his wealth, as his grandchildren are American citizens. Mere weeks after the sanctions were declared, the first shipment of “antiquities” with a Fabergé trademark began making its way to Latin America.