A spokesperson for HM Revenue & Customs confirmed to The Art Newspaper that it had launched the investigation that led to the prosecution, believed to be the first under the law banning the supply of luxury goods to Russia.
Court documents show that Hauser & Wirth allegedly sold Popov the artwork between April 2022 and December 2022. The UK government made it illegal to provide luxury goods, including jewelry, art, cars, and antiques valued over £250 ($330), to Russia in March 2022, when it announced a ban on exports of high-end goods. The European Union also implemented a ban on luxury goods exports as part of its sanctions against Russia in the same month. These moves were the result of Russia invading Ukraine.