
The two paintings, stolen from an exhibition on display in Sofia, were found in a pawnbroker's in the capital's centre. Photo by Yuliana Nikolova (Sofia Photo Agency)
The thief arrested Tuesday for stealing two pictures from an exhibition, currently on display in the National Palace of Culture, has pawned the precious objects of art for BGN 50, police reported.
The criminal, identified as Antoniy Chakarov, 26, brought the paintings, created by artists Nikolay Pavlovic and Vasily Vereschagin, to a pawnbroker's in the center of the capital city of Sofia.
The man was detained after being snapped on footage of the security cameras in the exhibition area.
One of the masterpieces is owned by the National Gallery of Arts. The second one belongs to a private collector.
The exhibition, dedicated to the 130th anniversary since Bulgaria's liberation, was opened on March 2 and includes masterpieces from the collections of galleries all over the country and the National Military History Museum.