Image: DPA/EPA/Gambarini
In a year-long legal tug-of-war over the approximately 2,000-year-old gold treasure from four Crimean museums, a decision in favor of Ukraine is now pending. The Attorney General of the Netherlands yesterday recommended that the country’s highest court in The Hague finally award the cultural treasures of the Scythians – around 2,000 artefacts made of gold, ceramics, wood and bronze – to Ukraine. As a rule, the judges of the High Council follow the recommendation. The valuable cultural assets got caught in the front line of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Previously, Amsterdam courts had awarded Ukraine’s cultural assets in two instances. As a result, the Crimean museums appealed to the Supreme Council. The verdict is expected in September.
It all started in 2014 with an exhibition in Amsterdam about archaeological art treasures from Crimea, then part of Ukraine. The hundreds of objects included gold, jewels, weapons, and masks. But in 2014, Crimea was annexed by Russia. The Amsterdam museum did not return the valuable objects after the exhibition, because it did not know who the rightful owner was.
The now Russian Crimean museums are reclaiming the pieces. But according to Kiev, it is about Ukrainian state property. The art treasures are kept in a secret location in the Netherlands.
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I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
