According to Ahborot programme of Uzbekistan TV channel, former Chief Curator of the State Art Museum of Uzbekistan Mirfayzi Usmanov in collusion with other employees of the museum have caused damage to the state in the amount of 47.5 billion soums by replacing the originals of paintings to copies.

During inventory of about 68,000 paintings, it was revealed that 278 paintings were replaced to copies, while two paintings were missing, the report said.

According to the report, the criminal group realized seven painting for US$5,100 to the citizen of Russia Tair Tairov.

In the result of adopted measures, works of A. Nikolaev “Girl with Fruit”, N. Karakhan :Girls near the pool”, O.Tatevosyan “Fishing”, “Teahouse”, “Road to Urgut”, “Bukhara”, M .Zommer “Bridge over the mountain river” and “Barbecue” were returned to Uzbekistan from Russia.

About 13 employees received corresponding punishments within the criminal case.