Since April 2022, Britain has banned the export of luxury goods worth more than £250 to Russia, art included

Since April 2022, Britain has banned the export of luxury goods worth more than £250 to Russia, art included. Breaking the ban is a criminal offence and may cost up to six months in prison.

And so, last November, the Crown Prosecution Service brought a charge against the Hauser & Wirth gallery because George Condo's Escape from Humanity had been acquired by a gentleman with Russian connections. The case was brought by the tax authority, but this week the court dropped the charge.

It turns out that the prosecution failed to prove that the buyer was a resident of Russia at the time of the sale. Well, lucky fellow. A non-resident's dodge, so to speak.

Incidentally, the photo does not necessarily show that very work; this artist has a whole heap of works with the same title, but it will do for illustration