US returns stolen archival material to Russia
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Version 0 of 1. MOSCOW — Captivated by art and history as a youth, Vladimir Feinberg began stealing items from the Hermitage Museum three decades ago and later from the Russian national archives. On Thursday, some of them found their way back to Russia after U.S. investigators tracked them down and returned them to Russia. Four documents spirited away by Feinberg were among 28 historically significant pieces ranging from military records to architectural drawings present to Russia in a ceremony at the U.S. ambassador’s residence. Feinberg, who now lives in Israel, is believed to have stolen some $24 million worth of works. The four Feinberg-purloined documents that were brought back include decrees signed by Empress Elizabeth and Emperors Paul I, Alexander I and Alexander II. U.S. Homeland Security agents found the documents in December 2011 when they were being offered for sale by an auction house in Addison, Illinois. The person selling the documents had purchased three of the documents via eBay and the fourth from an individual in Pennsylvania. The U.S. Homeland Security also returned a decree signed by Emperor Peter the Great valued at more than $12,000, an order signed by Soviet dictator Josef Stalin and sketches from the Russian architect Yakov Chernikhov. “I think the good news here today is that the United States was able to catch the burglars and we’re able to get the documents and bring them back home. We’re bringing them to where they should be,” U.S. Ambassador John Tefft told the Associated Press. The United States has repatriated hundreds of documents and historical artifacts to Russia since cooperation between the two countries in the field of recovering stolen cultural items began in 2007 and the repatriation program has continued to run despite often fraught political relations between Moscow and Washington. “History belongs to the people and the documents should be located in their country of origin,” said Aleksandra Arakelova, Russia’s National Archive director. Russian archival authorities will return the Feinberg documents to St. Petersburg in a new, more secure, archival building. Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |