Court Seizes Paintings from Ex-Lawmaker's Son in Artist's Copyright Dispute

Paintings Seized by Court Order

According to Главком: A Kyiv court has ordered the seizure of paintings from the son of former Ukrainian MP Mykhailo Apostol, following a criminal case initiated by renowned artist Ivan Marchuk. Marchuk is contesting a 2020 licensing agreement, under which he transferred the rights to images of his works for 100 years. Among the signatories to this agreement are Mykhailo Apostol's son, Ihor Apostol, as well as Serhii Pavlenko, Mykhailo Synytsia, and Tamara Strypko. This case highlights the complex legal and financial disputes that can arise from long-term art licensing deals.

A Gift and Its Legal Repercussions

The dispute has its origins in a 2018 gift. Ivan Marchuk, a National Artist of Ukraine, gave a painting to Mykhailo Apostol in gratitude for Apostol's role in recovering 101 of Marchuk's canvases that were being smuggled out of the country illegally. Experts valued the recovered works at approximately $10 million USD. The gifted painting bore Marchuk's autograph on the back with the inscription: 'To Mr. Mykhailo as a sign of boundless gratitude.' Apostol later gifted this painting to his grandson, the son of Ihor Apostol. It was this signed painting that police seized from Mykhailo Apostol's son.

In 2017, while serving as an advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs, Mykhailo Apostol facilitated the return of the 101 Marchuk paintings. However, in 2025, Marchuk filed a lawsuit to have the 2020 licensing agreement declared invalid, stating he never received the contracted payments. According to the disputed contract, Marchuk was to receive a 10,000 hryvnia fee (equivalent to about $360 USD in 2020) plus a 5% royalty from licensing revenues.

Mykhailo Apostol commented on the commercial aspects, stating:

'The production cost of a reproduction is 200 hryvnia, and they were sold for between 5,000 and 12,000 hryvnia each.' - Mykhailo Apostol

He also noted that

'Today, around four thousand paintings by Ivan Marchuk are in private collections worldwide and are constantly being bought and sold.'

Apostol expressed confusion over the plaintiff's rejection of a settlement, remarking:

'A solution can always be found. I don't understand why the plaintiffs refused a settlement agreement at the first court hearing.' - Mykhailo Apostol

He added,

'Well then, we will resolve everything according to the law.'

The case continues to draw public attention and could significantly influence the outcome of copyright issues related to Marchuk's body of work.

This legal battle between Ivan Marchuk and the sons of Mykhailo Apostol may set a precedent for other artists in Ukraine and beyond regarding copyright and licensing enforcement. Its resolution will not only affect the financial stakes for the parties involved but could also prompt broader discussions on artists' rights protections within the legal framework.

The ongoing legal battle surrounding Ivan Marchuk's works not only involves the seizure of paintings but also coincides with significant milestones in the artist's career. As Marchuk prepares to celebrate his 90th anniversary with an exhibition featuring 250 of his creations, the complexities of copyright and art ownership are brought to the forefront. To learn more about how this exhibition intersects with the current legal disputes, read about the upcoming showcase of Marchuk's art.