Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda has called for severe punishment for those responsible for the theft of rare 19th-century Russian books from Eastern European libraries. Lithuania was one of the countries targeted by a spate of thefts worth 440,000 euros ($480,000) in the Baltic country alone. „This is really huge news and I hope those responsible will be punished. Punishment for such things should be severe,” said Nauseda – who is a book collector himself. The investigation into the theft from Vilnius University’s library is ongoing.
In May, 17 of Lithuania’s rare Russian books, including by Alexander Pushkin and Nikolai Gogol, went missing, with most replaced with fakes. Similar thefts were reported in Estonia, Latvia, and Poland at the University of Warsaw. The University of Warsaw has identified 79 books as missing, suffering the most substantial losses of all four countries. A university employee estimated the value of the stolen books at „around a million euros”. Experts believe the stolen works have found their way to Russia, with some sold off at hasty auctions in Moscow.
The theft of old and original books, dating back to the 19th century and earlier, poses a significant problem as thieves exploit the valuable cultural and historical heritage for profit on the international market. These stolen manuscripts, rare editions, and antique books often hold immense scholarly and cultural value, making them targets for illicit trade.
The absence of stringent regulations and security measures in many institutions, combined with the anonymity afforded by the online marketplace, facilitates the trafficking of stolen books. This underground market exploits the scarcity of these treasures, making them lucrative commodities. Libraries, archives, and private collectors fall victim to these thefts, resulting in irreparable losses to humanity’s shared cultural legacy. International collaboration, improved security protocols, and heightened awareness within the antiquarian book trade are essential to combat this illicit activity.
