Founders of the Center and the Museum of Academician Andrei Sakharov had decided not to organize it exhibits similar «forbidden art - 2006». About «Interfax» said on Wednesday the Center Director Yuri Samodurov.

According to him, was originally planned that the exhibition «Forbidden Art» will take place at the Center each year, as monitoring of censorship. But now, regardless of the court decision in a criminal case to hold such an exhibition in March 2007, stressed Samodurov, the founders of a final decision to abandon the organization of such exhibitions.

«So, regardless of the court decision, even if all of a sudden it will acquittals, we - the name of the Sakharov Center - already lost - said Samodurov. - I will therefore not, as previously in similar processes, to defend itself the right to hold such exhibitions - I'm just going to say that what happened has nothing to do with criminal cases ».

As the Samodurov, speaking on 24 July in a live radio station «Echo Moskvy», founder of the Center and Museum is the Sakharov Foundation, and all decisions are made by its board. The main grantor is currently the American Foundation for Sakharov. According to Samodurova when at a recent board meeting, one member of the American Foundation said that in his view, it would be necessary to hold an exhibition «Forbidden Art - 2007», then all members of the «took it simply as a joke». «The price was too, apparently, is high, - said Samodurov. - This exhibition at our museum more, unfortunately, not possible».

Samodurov on Wednesday appeared previously denied reports that the Sakharov Center and Museum will be closed due to lack of funding. According to him, he planned from 6 August forced the dismissal of employees of the museum, because they had nothing to pay. However, during this month, said Samodurov, managed to collect about 350 thousand rubles donations that will allow «lasted» another month. «Unfortunately, this does not solve the problem with the financing of the final, perhaps, this situation may be repeated every month», - noted Samodurov, adding that the money provided, several dozen citizens of Russia, and the amount of donations ranged from 500 to 30 thousand rubles.

As reported earlier Samodurov broadcast «Echo of Moscow», American Foundation Sakharova «sends now a little less than half of those funds that we need to exist, and yet we need to 350 thousand rubles a month, we are now trying to collect simply referring to the society and to business ».

At the exhibition «Forbidden Art - 2006», which opened in the name of the Sakharov Center in March 2007, were presented exhibits rejected by museums and galleries, fear of charges of inciting religious hatred, or other similar charges. However, in Taganskaya interregional prosecutor's office appealed the orthodox movement «The People's Cathedral», claiming that the exhibition degrades «the dignity of citizens on the basis of their religious beliefs», and then against Yuri Samodurova and exhibition curator Andrew Yerofeeva was prosecuted under Article 282 of the Criminal Code ( incitement to racial, ethnic and religious hatred using the office). In May 2008 they were charged, and 24 July it became known that the case before the court. Earlier, Yuri Samodurov already held criminally liable for the conduct of the exhibition «Caution: Religion !».

Source: www.lenta.ru