Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) attributed the return of the majority of the jewels stolen from the Green Vault to the high pressure of the manhunt. The fact that the seemingly impossible theft became a completely normal crime by criminal clans has something to do with the fact that "the police and judiciary worked in an absolutely professional, calm and precise manner," said Kretschmer on Monday in the state parliament. "The weekend's success was only possible thanks to this unbelievable search pressure and the tough legal dispute."

Kretschmer also thanked the head of the Dresden State Art Collections (SKD), Marion Ackermann, and her colleagues. "What stupid, malicious insinuations and insults these people have had to put up with in recent years," he said. There are great people at the State Art Collections: "I'm glad that in the director general we have someone who is internationally respected and who will help us here in this country."

Booty worth over 113 million euros

The break-in into the Treasury of the Green Vault in November 2019 was one of the most sensational art thefts in Germany. The perpetrators stole historical pieces of jewelry with a total of 4,300 diamonds and brilliants with a total value of over 113 million euros. A trial against six suspects for serious gang theft, arson and particularly serious arson has been underway in Dresden since the beginning of this year. The German nationals belong to an extended family of Arabic origin.

The jewels' return was apparently preceded by a deal between a defense attorney and the judiciary. It was "talked between the defense and the public prosecutor's office, including the court, about a possible agreement on the procedure and the repatriation of looted items that were still there," it said officially. The trial at the Dresden Regional Court will not continue until next year. The main hearing scheduled for Tuesday (December 20) was canceled due to the illness of a judge, the Dresden Regional Court announced on Monday. The next date is scheduled for January 10, 2023. The day of the hearing on Tuesday was eagerly awaited, and observers expected statements from the accused.

"The jubilant reports about the retrieval of a part of the loot are obviously intended to overlay the debate on the omissions. The key question, however, remains how the jewels could have been lost in the first place," explained Rico Gebhardt, leader of the Left Party, in the Saxon state parliament. In the past few years, he had repeatedly asked small questions in Parliament about the theft. "We stand by it: the omissions and mistakes that favored the burglary must be clarified and consequences drawn. The flight from responsibility must end."

"We are pleased that some of the stolen jewels have turned up, and I don't deny that the authorities did a good job of investigating. However, the recovery is obviously due to a deal," explained Gebhardt. By his own admission, he submitted another small request on the subject on Monday.