After returning part of the stolen jewels from the Green Vault, the Dresden State Art Collections (SKD) are now asserting claims for damages.
"The exact amount of damage is currently being determined based on the pieces of jewelry returned in December," said SKD spokesman Holger Liebs on Thursday on request.
For this purpose, the Free State of Saxony submitted a so-called adhesion application to the Dresden Regional Court in the current criminal proceedings relating to the burglary.
It is foreseeable "that civil claims against the accused can be successfully asserted".
Damage could be "almost completely" restored
This is possible with an adhesion procedure directly in the criminal trial.
“Contents are the damage caused by the serious burglary in the historic Green Vault.
"This includes the stolen jewelry and, for example, damage to the building and the showcases," emphasized the SKD spokesman.
With a view to the claims for damages, three representatives of the State Office for Taxes and Finances were in the courtroom for the first time last Tuesday.
The art-historical importance of the recovered objects is "nevertheless consistently high" and their international appeal is "unbroken", the SKD assured.
The damage could be "almost completely" restored, and their condition and the respective measures should be discussed in a commission of experts.
Since the precious items are evidence in the criminal proceedings for breaking into the treasury against six suspects, they could only be issued after the end of the trial.
Last Tuesday, SKD restorer Eve Begov named the damage amount of 22 to 26 million euros in court after an initial inspection of the returned and mostly damaged pieces of jewelry.
But that will only be known in the course of the restoration.
She put the effort for this at 126,000 euros - without the missing stones.
According to the SKD, the breast star of the Polish White Eagle Order and the "Heron Stutz" hat brim from the diamond set, the hat clasp, the gem of the Polish White Eagle Order, two shoe buckles, the epaulette - a shoulder trimming - the sword without a blade and six skirt buttons from the diamond rose set, as well as the headdress in the shape of a sun and part of a muff clasp from the queens' diamond jewelery back.
With the part of the diamond necklace that was torn off by the thieves and the large breast bow of Queen Amalie Auguste and the epaulette with the "Saxon White", a large diamond of almost 50 carats, three prominent pieces are still missing - in addition to individual small parts.
SKD Director General Marion Ackermann said the audience would "soon" have the opportunity to see the recovered jewels for themselves "and celebrate their return with us".
It will become clear “that the art-historically most important pieces of jewelry are back in our possession and that only a few pieces are still missing”.
And the restoration will "complete the magnificent overall impression".
During the spectacular coup on November 25, 2019, which also made international headlines, jewelry made of 4,300 diamonds and brilliants with an insured value of over 113 million euros was stolen from the historic Green Vault, according to the indictment.
Six young men have had to answer for gang theft and serious arson at the Dresden Regional Court for almost a year.
About three years after the burglary, part of the loot reappeared shortly before Christmas in the course of talks between defense attorneys and the public prosecutor's office.
In the course of an agreement that has now been reached with the court, five of the accused are to receive discounts if they also make comprehensive confessions - the sixth accused denies involvement with reference to an alibi.