Seventeenth-century cello stolen from Russia almost 30 years ago returned from Europe - Interior Ministry

MOSCOW. Oct 18 (Interfax) - A seventeenth-century cello, which formed part of Russia's state collection of unique musical instruments, has been returned to the country after it was stolen almost 30 years ago, the Russian Interior Ministry's spokesperson Irina Volk said.

"Thanks to the well-coordinated work of police officers in several countries, the stolen relic, a 17th century cello made by the Italian master Giovanni Battista Rogeri, one of apprentices of Nicola Amati, was found and returned into Russia's jurisdiction. It is part of the Russian state collection of unique musical instruments," Volk said on her Telegram channel on Friday.

The instrument, which belonged to the state Russian National Museum of Music, was stolen in 1995 from a musician to whom it had been given for temporary use. A criminal inquiry was launched on the charge of massive theft.

"Because there were reasons to presume that the cello may have smuggled out of the country, it was entered in the Interpol database of information on stolen artifacts. In 2018 the instrument was discovered at an auction in France. It was removed from the auction," Volk said.

Later, Russian police established that the cello had been moved to Italy. Following a Russian request, Italian law enforcement seized and placed the instrument in safe custody of the cultural heritage protection unit of a Carabinieri squad in Florence.

"After expert examination of the cultural heritage item, the Italian side made a decision about its return to the Russian Federation," Volk said.