Trove of Stolen Valuables Returned to Russian Museums by Envoy

By Sophie Lavine March 4, 2016

A trove of fine art, military documents, and architectural drawings that were allegedly stolen by an Israeli antiques dealer from Russian museums were returned to the government in a ceremony at U.S ambassador John Tefft’s residence in Moscow this week.

Included in the 30 recovered items were four documents signed by Empress Elizabeth, and Emperors Paul I, Alexander I, and Alexander II. The four items were allegedly stolen by Vladimir Feinberg, a Russian antique dealer and reputed gang leader living in Israel.

The items were tracked down by U.S homeland Security agents in 2011 after noticing them for sale at an auction house in Addison, Illinois, reported the Associated Press.

According to Russian authorities, Feinberg has allegedly stolen $24 million dollars worth of works of art and artifacts from the Hermitage Museum and the Russian National Archives in the past 30 years. However, Russian authorities have not been able to win Feinberg’s extradition.

In the ceremony, a document signed by Emperor Peter the Great, valued at over $12,000 dollars, a decree signed by Joseph Stalin, and some of Russian architect Yakov Chernikhov’s sketches were also returned. Since 2007, the United States has returned hundreds of stolen artifacts to the Russian Government. About 2,500 pages of documents from Moscow and St. Petersburg have been stolen since the late 20th century.

So far, only about 500 of these stolen items have been returned. The recovered items will be taken to a highly secured archival building in St. Petersburg, Russia, according to the AP.

A message from our Publisher & CEO Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.

The coming year promises to be filled with more complex and historic developments. We are entering an era where independent, fact-based Jewish journalism will be more important than ever. We need to be ready for whatever 2025 will bring, and with your help, we can be.

We’ve set a goal to raise $260,000 by December 31. That’s an ambitious goal, but one that will give us the resources we need to invest in the high quality news, opinion, analysis and cultural coverage that isn’t available anywhere else.

If you feel inspired to make an impact, now is the time to give something back. Join us as a member at your most generous level.

— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO