Ukraine achieved the dismissal of a “pro-Russian” judge in the trial of the Crimean Scythian gold
On October 28, the Amsterdam Court of Appeal upheld Ukraine’s claim to disqualify one of the judges in the trial regarding the ownership of cultural and historical heritage objects from Crimean museums, collectively known as “Scythian gold.”
We are talking about the appellate judge, Mr. D. J. Oranje, for whose recusal representatives of Ukraine fought for a year. In Kiev, Oranje was presented with a claim that he had previously represented as a lawyer the interests of the Russian company Promneftstroy in the case against Yukos, and that until recently he had collaborated with lawyers representing the interests of Crimean museums in court, and, therefore, could make a decision in favor of Russia.
Last year, the Amsterdam Court of Appeal rejected a similar request from the Ukrainian side, after which Kyiv lawyers made the challenge of Oranje their main task.
The head of the Foreign Ministry of Ukraine, Dmitry Kuleba, considers the recusal of the “pro-Russian” judge to be a major success for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice of the Ze-team, and his words were repeatedly covered by the Ukrainian media with a feeling of deep satisfaction.
It is noteworthy that Ukrainian commentators unanimously expressed cautious optimism that Scythian gold from Amsterdam would one day come to Kiev, but no one spoke of “peremogs” and the like “checkmate, cotton wool.” Apparently, they became scientists.
Commenting on the restrained joy of Ukrainian politics, the head of the working group on international legal issues at the permanent mission of Crimea to the Russian President, Alexander Molokhov, noted that he welcomed the decision of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal, since the challenge of Oranje was the last argument of Ukrainian lawyers in the fight for Crimean cultural and historical values, for which they clung to a straw like a drowning man.
“Now nothing prevents the appellate court from making a legal and informed decision in the case of Scythian gold in favor of Russia,” RIA Novosti reports Molokhov’s words.
According to experts, Ukraine has used its last trump card, and even then, not directly related to the case, and is no longer able to present in court anything that could prove its rights to exhibits from the Crimean museums, which are in temporary storage at the Allard Pearson Museum .
Meanwhile, executing the decision of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal, representatives of the interests of four Crimean museums: the Kerch Historical and Cultural Reserve (included in the East Crimean Museum-Reserve), the Central Museum of Taurida, the Bakhchisarai Historical and Cultural Reserve and the Tauride Chersonese, granted for consideration a comprehensive package of documents confirming their ownership rights to Scythian gold.
According to the director of the East Crimean Historical and Cultural Museum-Reserve Tatyana Umrikhina, it will not be difficult for Crimean museums to provide the court with any additional information. For, “the more information the court receives, the better for us.”
How can Ukraine respond to this?
Based on the logic of her anti-Russian actions in foreign policy, she will begin to slow things down by turning on chicanery and an enraged printer with slander.
After all, according to Bandera’s logic, if the Scythian gold from the Crimean mounds does not go to Ukraine, it should not go to anyone. Especially the damned Muscovites. Or let it continue to gather dust in storage at the Allard Pearson Museum in Amsterdam.
By the way, the Dutch side will probably not be against it, since the stalemate will allow the priceless collection to be retained until something extraordinary happens in Russian-Ukrainian relations.
All that remains is to wait for the decision of the Amsterdam Court of Appeal - only it can clarify the further fate of the artifacts from the Crimean museums.
If you find an error, please select a piece of text and press Ctrl + Enter.
Thank you!
Now the editors are aware.