The Return of 28 Historic Documents Repatriated to Russia
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Cultural Property, Art, and Antiquities Program (CPAA) will repatriate 28 documents of historical value to the Russian government in a ceremony on March 3, 2016.
The documents consist of imperial decrees, military records, and architectural drawings from the 18th and 19th centuries. The documents were recovered as a result of investigations conducted by HSI field offices in Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and San Francisco 2006-2012. The materials were stolen from Russian State Archives and later listed for sale by auction houses, art galleries, and individuals. HSI Moscow played a key role in coordinating leads from the Russian government with HSI domestic offices. HSI Moscow currently is conducting additional investigations into historical and culturally significant artifacts that have been reported as stolen from the Russian Federation.
