In a year-long legal wrangling over the approximately 2,000-year-old gold hoard from four Crimean museums, a final decision in favor of Ukraine now awaits. The Attorney General of the Netherlands advised in The Hague on Friday that the country’s highest court should finally allocate the cultural treasures of the Scythians to Ukraine. As a rule, the Supreme Court judges follow the recommendation.
The valuable cultural assets came to the frontline of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. Earlier, the Amsterdam court had also awarded the valuable cultural property of Ukraine in two instances. As a result, the Crimean museums appealed to the Supreme Court. The verdict is expected in September.
Rightful owner unknown
It all started in 2014 with an exhibition in Amsterdam about archaeological art treasures from Crimea – then part of Ukraine. The hundreds of items include 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 Crimean museums, now under Russian rule, are demanding the pieces back. But according to Kiev, it is Ukrainian state property. The art treasures are kept in a secret location in the Netherlands.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
