PRINCESS Eugenie’s art gallery has been charged with breaching Russian sanctions.
Hauser & Wirth, of which the royal, 35, is an associative director, has been accused of supplying luxury goods to “a person connected with Russia“.
The transactions are alleged to have occurred between April and December 2022, as reported by The Times.
Princess Eugenie has been an associative director at the gallery since 2015.
There is no suggestion the royal had anything to do with the alleged trade.
It is understood the gallery gave a painting called Escape from Humanity, by George Condo, to Alexander Popov for his contemporary art foundation.
The charges were brought after an investigation sparked by HM Revenue & Customs.
There is no suggestion Popov has been accused of wrongdoing and he is not under UK government sanction.
It followed a ban imposed by the Department for International Trade in April 2022 that prevented the export of luxury items to Russia over £250 after the war in Ukraine began.
Art shipping company Artay Rauchwerger Solomons Limited has also been accused of breaching the ban on the supply of luxury items between August and December 2022.
The London based company, formerly known as Art Logistics Limited, was placed in voluntary liquidation last year.
A hearing at Westminster magistrates’ court heard the maximum penalty for the charge is an unlimited fine.
Hugo Keith KC, representing Hauser & Wirth, said the gallery wished for the case to go to a crown court.
John Allchin, representing the shipping company, indicated that it would deny the charge.
The case was adjourned and sent to Southwark Crown Court, where there will be a pre-trial hearing on December 16.
Mr Popov runs the Popov Art Foundation with his wife Evgeniya Popova.
It is based near Moscow and is home to masterpieces by Andy Warhol and Banksy.
Hauser & Wirth has galleries spread out across the globe, from Mayfair to Hong Kong.
The company also has showrooms in New York, Switzerland, Monaco and Paris.
A Hauser & Wirth spokesperson said: “Our UK Gallery has been charged with one instance of making an item of artwork available to a non-sanctioned person connected with Russia.
“We are fully committed to complying with all our legal obligations including sanctions.
“As the case is ongoing we are unable to comment further other than say we strongly contest this charge and intend to plead not guilty.”
This comes after Dmitry Ovsiannikov became the first person convicted of breaching Russian sanctions.
He was arrested at his £1.5million London home, where he lived with his family, in February 2023.
In April he was convicted of six charges of contravening Russian sanctions and two associated charges of money laundering.
This comes Eugenie and Princess Beatrice were snapped hugging in the street as they were seen for the first time since their dad’s scandal.
The sisters were spotted on the streets of London on the same day disgraced Andrew was ordered to appear before Congress and officially stripped of his titles.
The sisters appeared to be consoling one another following a serious conversation in Mayfair.
They were seen chatting intensely before sharing a close embrace as they said goodbye to one another and went their separate ways.
King Charles, 76, formally stripped his disgraced brother Andrew of his prince title and booted him from the Royal Lodge.
And now in the latest blow to the ex duke, Jeffrey Epstein appeared to confirm a photo of Virginia Giuffre with Andrew is real, according to newly released docs.
The paedophile financier also claimed several of his employees had their picture taken with the former prince.
The infamous photo shows the Duke of York with his arm around the then 17-year-old teen sex slave at Maxwell’s London home in 2001.
Ms Giuffre used it as evidence for her claims Andrew sexually abused her on three occasions after she was trafficked to the UK by Epstein.
The royal has always vehemently denied the allegations and has insisted the photo has been doctored.
In an email from Epstein to a reporter in July 2011, he wrote: “Now that strauss kan [sic] girl will be shown to be a total liar.
“Maybe your paper should jump on and show that (redacted)’s allegations re andrew [sic] are the same, she also accused numerous people of having sex with her, dersh, ehud, etc.
“Not one paper had the balls to question her credibility.”
Alan Dershowitz and Ehud Barak have denied all allegations.
Meanwhile, in more of Epstein’s emails to the journalist, he wrote: “The girl has fled the country with an outstanding arrest warrant.
“The da [sic[ after she accused others, said in writing that she has no credibility, she was never 15 years old working for me, her story made it seem like she first worked for trump [sic] at that age and was met by ghislaine maxwell [sic].
“Total horses***, the daily mail [sic] paid her money, they admitted it, with the statement that it took money to coax out the truth.
“Yes she was on my plane, and yes she had her picture taken with Andrew, as many of my employees have.
“I have never misled you, this girl is a total liar, they [sic] authorities should check her australian [sic] immigration form, you could talk to dershowitz [sic]. I will ask if they will cooperate – Prince people.”
Andrew has always categorically denied meeting Virginia Giuffre, and all allegations against him.
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