Ukraine Backs Call to Expel Russia from Global Museum Network Over Cultural Heritage Violations
The Ukrainian Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications has voiced strong support for a petition initiated by the French civil society group “For Ukraine, for their and our freedom!”, which urges the expulsion of Russia from the International Council of Museums (ICOM).
The Gaze reports on this with reference to the Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communication of Ukraine.
ICOM, a Paris-based organization founded in 1946, brings together museums and cultural professionals from over 80 countries. Its ethical code commits members to upholding international law, particularly in the preservation and protection of cultural heritage. However, critics argue that Russia’s continued membership undermines these very standards.
According to the petition, Russia has repeatedly violated international conventions, including the 1954 Hague Convention, through the systematic plundering of cultural institutions in occupied Ukrainian territories. Ukrainian officials report that thousands of valuable artifacts have been removed from museums in cities like Kherson, Mariupol, and Melitopol, many of which have since appeared in Russian state museum catalogs.
One of the most troubling cases was the looting of Chersonesus, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Crimea, where Russian authorities established a new museum promoting imperial narratives. These acts are part of a broader campaign not only to erase Ukrainian identity but to replace it with a distorted version shaped by Russian propaganda.
The petition also recalls how the Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, in 2016, showcased dozens of works taken from Crimean collections, well before the 2022 full-scale invasion. Despite growing evidence and calls from several national ICOM committees to suspend Russia’s participation, the organization has yet to act.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Culture underscores that Russia’s continued presence in ICOM is incompatible with the organization's mission. It calls on the international museum community to take principled action and ensure accountability for crimes against cultural heritage.
As The Gaze reported earlier, Mykola Tochytskyi, Ukraine’s Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications, called on European partners for help in evacuating cultural artifacts and training specialists in evacuation, restoration, and recovery.