Authorities are working on ways to increase protection for museums, archives and libraries across Russia. New storage facilities are being planned, with computerised databases of all items held.

This is part of a new national project being set up to safeguard treasures of national culture.

A Moscow news conference is due to present the culture ministry’s explanation of what's being done in the light of one of the biggest museum robberies – at the Hermitage in St. Petersburg. More than 200 items worth nearly $5 million were taken. Three people face charges of robbery, including the son and husband of the former curator, who died last year.

Museum officials appealed for the return of missing items but only 25 have been brought back. After the theft was revealed in a routine inventory, similar checks were ordered at all Russian museums.