Sunday

Russians 50,000 Stolen Art

Russian police are searching for almost 50,000 stolen art treasures. The missing pieces of artwork include pictures, icons, sculptures, metalwork, gems, military decorations, vintage armor, and rare books. Some were stolen from museums and churches, but most from private houses. The biggest challenge is to track down pieces that have been smuggled out of the country. In 1994, seven Orthodox icons were stolen from a museum in a northwestern Russian town. One of the icons - a 16th-century image of the Blessed Virgin Odigitria - was purchased by the owner of a London art gallery from a Russian immigrant living in Germany for £50,000 . A Brussels-based collector then bought the icon for £170,000 agreeing that it would continue to be displayed in London. This year the icon was finally tracked down and brought home as the result of a joint operation by Russian police, the ministries of culture and media, and Interpol. Police are still working to identify those behind the crime and bring them to justice. Irish Art