A prestigious London art gallery with ties to Princess Eugenie is set to face a criminal trial in 2028 over allegations it breached sanctions against Russia. Hauser & Wirth, which has its flagship gallery on Savile Row in Mayfair, is accused of making a luxury artwork available to a person connected with Russia.
The Charges and Alleged Breach
The gallery is formally charged with making a luxury good available between 14 April and 31 December 2022, a period following the UK's ban on exporting luxury items to Russia. The specific artwork in question is Escape from Humanity (2021) by the renowned American artist George Condo.
A second company, the London-based art shipping firm Artay Rauchwerger Solomons, formerly known as Art Logistics Limited, faces related charges. It is accused of breaching the luxury goods ban between August and December 2022. That company entered voluntary liquidation last year.
Princess Eugenie, 35, has held the role of associate director at Hauser & Wirth since 2015. Authorities have stated there is no suggestion she had any involvement in the case.
Court Proceedings and Defence
At Westminster Magistrates' Court, Judge Tony Baumgartner set a provisional trial date for 10 January 2028, with the case estimated to last up to ten days. A plea and trial preparation hearing has been scheduled for 5 May next year.
Representing Hauser & Wirth, Hugo Keith KC described the case as not "particularly complex" and the issues involved as "minimal." A spokesman for the international gallery, which also has a location in Somerset and others worldwide, stated it "strongly contests" the charge.
Background of the Sanctions
The charges stem from an investigation initiated by HM Revenue & Customs. They relate to sanctions imposed by the UK's Department for International Trade in April 2022, shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The regulations prohibited the export of luxury goods valued at more than £250 to Russia.
The case highlights the ongoing enforcement of economic measures designed to pressure the Russian regime, extending into the high-value world of international art sales and logistics.
