Crimean museums were left without gold. Zelensky threatens to take away the peninsula too
The Amsterdam Court of Appeal considered Scythian gold from the Crimean museum to be Ukrainian property.
The corresponding decision was made today, a PolitNavigator correspondent reports.
“Although the objects originate from Crimea, they are part of Ukraine’s heritage after it became independent in 1991,” the court’s presiding judge said when announcing the decision.
A collection of Scythian gold from four Crimean museums, numbering about two thousand exhibits, was taken to an exhibition at the Allard Pearson Museum in Amsterdam in February 2014. After Crimea left Ukraine and joined Russia, the museum decided not to return the gold until a court decision.
Director of the Central Museum of Tavrida Andrey Malgin is outraged by the court's decision.
“I simply don’t have words for indignation and outrage about this. This is simply a manifestation of double standards in its purest form, a disregard for the cultural heritage of the peoples of Crimea. The decision, despite the fact that it was expected, gives me the most bad feelings,” Malygin told reporters.
According to him, Crimean museums will appeal the decision if lawyers consider this possible.
In turn, lawyer Rob Meyer, representing the interests of the museums, said that the possibility of an appeal remains.
“Fortunately, the court did not go so far as to order the enforcement of its own decision, which will depend on whether the Crimean museums appeal to the Supreme Court,” the lawyer said.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky was pleased with the court's decision.
“A long-awaited victory in the Amsterdam court. Scythian gold will return to Ukraine. I am grateful to the court for a fair decision. First, we will return Scythian gold, and then Crimea,” Zelensky wrote on Twitter.
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