STOLEN MEDAL OF CZAR PETER THE GREAT RETURNED TO RUSSIA

The U.S. Ambassador to Russia returned a stolen silver medallion that belonged to the last Russian czar to Moscow Thursday after it was recovered from an online auction by U.S. investigators.

Ambassador John Beyrle said that the recovery of the rare artifact signaled increasing trust between Moscow and Washington.

"This detective story is a wonderful example of successful cooperation, which allows us to improve relations between Russia and the United States," Beyrle said during a ceremony at his official residence.

The medallion, which bears a portrait of Czar Peter the Great, once belonged to the family of Russia's last Czar, Nicholas II. It was stolen from the State Hermitage museum in St. Petersburg.

To read the complete article, see: United States Gives Russia Back Czar's Stolen Medallion (www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=36640)

Wayne Homren, Editor

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