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A national association of Russian museum workers bristled at criticism that followed the thefts of $5 million worth of artworks from the famed Hermitage, accusing critics of trying to put state museums in private hands. The Union of Museums of Russia protested what it described as an attempt to use the thefts of 221 objects from the St. Petersburg institution to push the government to privatize national museums. Virtually all museums in Russia are state-run, and some critics and cultural leaders have suggested that privatizing some could raise more funds and improve lax security and antiquated record-keeping.