The Museum in the Netherlands Cancels Payment For Ukraine For the Nearly 10-Year Storage of "Scythian Gold"
The archaeological museum of the University of Amsterdam has waived the debt for Ukraine for the storage of the "Scythian gold" collection for almost 10 years - unique Ukrainian artifacts that Russia tried to claim through European courts. The collection of artifacts, illegally blocked by Russia in 2014, is finally returning to Ukraine.
This information is reported by the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Culture and the Allard Pierson Museum have agreed on return of museum items from the state part of the Museum Fund of Ukraine. This includes exhibits from four museums on the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea: the Central Museum of Tauris, the Kerch Historical and Cultural Preserve, the Bakhchisarai Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve, and the National Preserve of Tauric Chersonesos.
“The return of artifacts of special historical and cultural significance is a significant and multifaceted process. It combines legal, museum, diplomatic, and logistical aspects. We look forward to the return of collections, one of which is known as the 'Scythian gold,' back to Ukraine,” emphasized the Acting Minister of Culture Rostyslav Karandiyev.
It is worth noting that in 2013, a few months before the Russian hybrid invasion of Ukraine, the collection of the so-called "Scythian gold" went on display at the LVR-Landesmuseum in Bonn, Germany.
Later, in January 2014, the exhibition "Crimea - Golden Island in the Black Sea" was transported to the Allard Pierson Museum in Amsterdam.
After the Russian occupation of Crimea, Russia demanded the immediate return of the collection to the territory it controlled. When refused, Russia initiated a legal process that lasted almost nine years.
In July 2023, the Supreme Court of the Netherlands confirmed numerous decisions of lower courts in favor of Ukraine. Over 400 unique objects of cultural heritage have a chance to return to their homeland.
Earlier, The Gaze reported the story of the Scythian gold that Russians attempted to steal.
This September, it was also revealed that the Spanish authorities confiscated Scythian jewelry worth 60 million euros, which had been previously stolen from Ukraine.