By KYIV. Jan 2 (Interfax-Ukraine) – In the Kyiv region, the suspicion was reported to a citizen who tried to steal Banksy’s graffiti, the Prosecutor General’s Office reports on the Telegram channel on Monday.
The citizen was informed about the suspicion of an attempted secret theft of someone else’s property on an especially large scale under martial law (Part 2 of Article 15, Part 5 of Article 185 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
According to the investigation, the resident of the capital decided to dismantle the graffiti Woman in a Gas Mask by world-famous street artist Banksy from the wall of a house dilapidated by the occupiers in Hostomel. Realizing the value of the work, he planned to sell graffiti, and dispose of the funds received at his own discretion.
To do this, he attracted people who were unfamiliar with his intentions, who he assured that he had all the relevant permissions to dismantle the mural. After part of the wall was cut along with the image, the suspect wrapped it with stretch film to protect it from damage, but did not have time to load it into the car, as he was exposed by the military administration.
The pretrial investigation is being conducted by the Bucha district department of the National Police Main Directorate in Kyiv region.
The record price for the works of Banksy was set in February 2008: the work Pest Control was sold at auction for $1.9 million.
Banksy is the pseudonym of an anonymous English underground street artist. He received international recognition for his distinctive style of satirical street art and graffiti, done using screen printing techniques.
