Meanwhile, Vilnius University rector Benediktas Juodka disagrees with the statement and pledged to discuss the matter with the Hermitage director.
"We don't have it but we spoke to the Minister (of Culture Arūnas Gelūnas) today about the set of problems and restitution caused by historical events. These are very complicated matters, and each of them requires a separate discussion, investigation and solution," Mikhail Piotrovsky, director general of the museum, told BNS.
Juodka expressed certitude that the scepter was definitely at the Hermitage.
"In our opinion it is (at the Hermitage). We had written communication with Piotrovsky and his deputy, and in the last letter he said there were three scepters at the museum," said Juodka.
In his words, the last response from the Hermitage museum indicated that one of the three scepters was very similar to that of Vilnius University but had a different weight.
"What do they mean – different weights after 400 years. The scepter consists of nine parts that can be removed. One part may be missing, thus causing the weight to be different," said the rector.
The Vilnius University rector scepter, a symbol of the university's honour, authority and autonomy – has been mentioned in written sources since early 1600s.
After Russia shut down the university in early 1800s, the scepter along with other historic items was transported to Russia.
