The State Hermitage's Bulletin on Information Spread through Mass Media Concerning Paintings Allegedly Found in Moldova and Being Handed on to Russia

On 6 June 2008, the State Hermitage distributed the following message

The State Hermitage hereby informs:

Following a report made and distributed through mass media concerning paintings allegedly stolen from the Hermitage in 2006 and found in Moldova and being handed on to Russia, the State Hermitage hereby declares that it has no information about any findings of the Hermitage items.

In 2006 no picture thefts were recorded.

The Hermitage painting collection was re-inspected by the Government Committee for the Inspection of Museum Funds in 2007. Only one painting was noted to be missing; it was handed on to the Museum of Religion and Atheism in 1954 and stolen from it in 1976. The above is another disappointing example of carelessness in selecting information and time of its representing.