Theft Of Documents from the Central State Historical Archives of Ukraine, city of Lviv (TsDIAL)

A horrific criminal event has rocked the Central State Historical Archives of Ukraine, city of Lviv, directly affecting the Ukrainian genealogy world.  Some important historical documents were found for sale throughout Europe and North America. 

While the criminal investigation continues, the State Committee on Archives of Ukraine is conducting a complete check of its inventory at the Lviv archives.  Therefore, for the time being, personal research on-site in Lviv is not allowed at either the Central State Historical Archives of Ukraine in Lviv or the Lviv Oblast Archives.  On-site research is hoping to resume by the end of 2005, but everything will depend on the completion of the emergency inventory overhaul.

Fortunately, the Family History Library has completed the microfilming of the entire collection of Greek Catholic vital records.  (Search the Halgal Database for Greek Catholic vital records and FHL microfilm numbers.)

Here is some Press Releases found on the website of the State Committee on Archives of Ukraine:

Ukrainian Archives' Website Announcement

According to the Orders signed by Hennadii Boriak, Director General of the State Committee on Archives of Ukraine, the Reading Rooms of the Central State Historical Archive of Ukraine in Lviv and the State Archive of Lviv Oblast are now closed to on-site visits by researchers during the inventory process necessitated by the recent theft of valuable documents. It is anticipated the Reading Rooms will re-open before the end of 2005. During this time, it will not be possible to respond to genealogical research inquiries by e-mail, telephone or fax.

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PRESS RELEASE - Short version

of the State Committee on Archives of Ukraine
On Theft of the Documents from the Fonds of the
Central State Historical Archives of Ukraine in Lviv

Today we witness a growing collectors' interest for documentary rarities. The circulation of documents, in particular, an illegal one, has significantly increased on European antique markets and shops; and even through Internet auctions. Written historical monuments are more and more becoming products with a fixed market price. Thus, there appears a danger of the theft of documents, archival records included.

Some time during the Spring/Summer of 2004, a large-scale theft of unique documents of the sixteenth-twentieth centuries occurred at the oldest archive in Europe, the Central State Historical Archive of Ukraine in Lviv (TsDIAL) which holds more than 1,200,000 units from the twelfth-twentieth centuries. The stolen documents even appeared on the "black market" outside Ukraine.

The top management of the State Committee on Archives of Ukraine immediately ordered a thorough checking of archival records in TsDIAL to determine exactly which documents were missing. Since July 2004, a systematic and intensive inventory of the fonds (record groups) has been undertaken.

As a result, it was necessary to close the reading room to researchers in order to limit the document circulation within the archive and to conduct this inventory of the archival records in the shortest time.

During the investigation of this theft by the Ministry for Internal Affairs and the Security Service of Ukraine in Kyiv and Lviv, about 1,500 pages of archival documents were identified and returned to the Archive.

Anyone with information about this theft or any other documents that have been removed from this archive, should contact the State Committee on Archives in Ukraine.

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PRESS RELEASE - Detailed Version

of the State Committee on Archives of Ukraine
On Theft of the Documents from the Fonds of the
Central State Historical Archives of Ukraine in Lviv

Today we can witness a growing collectors' interest for documentary rarities.  The circulation of documents, in particular, an illegal one, has significantly increased on European antique markets and shops and even through Internet auctions.  Written historical monuments are more and more becoming products with fixed market price.  Thus, there appears a danger of stealing documents, archival records included.

It is very likely that in spring-summer 2004 a large-scale theft of the unique documents of XVI-XX centuries was committed at the oldest archive of Europe, that is the Central State Historical Archive of Ukraine in Lviv (TsDIAL) which holds more than 1,200,000 units of XII-XX centuries.  The stolen documents appeared even on the "black market" outside Ukraine.

Admittedly, there are two components of stolen documents: the first one, rather small in size, but utterly valuable, was aimed at selling on Polish antique market; the second, a larger one, was planned to be sold in Ukraine.

The first component contains the unique archival records of XVI-XVIII centuries, mostly the Polish kings' privileges of "The Greek Catholic Metropolitan Consistory" fond which is being processed during past few years.  Exactly the similar documents (as 2004 digital copies in color) were confiscated by Gdansk District Prosecutor's Office (Republic of Poland) at the moment of sale.  Consequently, a criminal case was brought against the owner of a numismatic shop in Gdansk.

The second documentary component concerns well0known Ukrainian scientists, cultural workers and religious figures.  The sources of Liberation Movement in Ukraine in 1917-1921 as well as some photo-documents (1st half of XX century) were stolen too.

In July 2004 the National Museum of History of Ukraine was presented with some M. Hrushevsky's letters on behalf of the Prime Minister of Ukraine.  But it turned out to be an archival affair stolen from the Central State Historical Archive of Ukraine in Lviv.  As a result of the "gift" identification and the following appeal of the State Committee on Archives of Ukraine to Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) the "gift" was brought back to the TsDIAL, together with Ivan Franko's sons' letters.  Both lacked the cover pages.

The top management of the State Committee on Archives of Ukraine immediately gave an order in terms of thorough checking of archival records in TsDIAL so that to reveal all stolen documents. Since July 2004 systematic and intensive "inventory making" of the fonds ahs begun.

The above activities are still going on.  Within December 2004-March 2005 the reading hall of the archive was closed for researchers so that to limit the documents circulation inside the archive and conduct "inventory making" of the archival records in the shortest time.

The State Committee on Archives of Ukraine is absolutely positive that prior to circulation, gifting, transferring of any historical documents there should be an obligatory professional expertise provided by experts designated by the State Committee on Archives of Ukraine as the central executive power body in the filed of archival affairs and document preservation.  The antique shops are also obliged to conduct the above expertise before obtaining any archival records for sale.

Investigation is being held by the competent bodies of Ministry for Internal Affairs and Security Service of Ukraine in Kyiv and Lviv.  During some special assignments there were revealed about 1500 sheets of archival documents; all of them have been returned tot eh Archive.

The Ministry for Internal Affairs, the Security Service of Ukraine as well as the State Committee on Archives of Ukraine, experts of the Central State Historical Archive of Ukraine in Lviv are doing their best for finding the stolen documents and returning them to the state archives. 

The State Committee on Archives of Ukraine appeals to everybody who is not indifferent to the national documentary heritage for providing comprehensive assistance to the investigation process.