Four Crimean museums to go to court for return of treasures in Amsterdam

scythian gold crimea allard piersonFour museums in Crimea are taking legal action to force a Dutch museum to hand back treasures loaned before Russia annexed the Ukrainian territory.

The four museums filed a complaint before an Amsterdam court on November 19, demanding the Allard Pierson museum return items loaned for an exhibition entitled The Crimea: Gold and Secrets from the Black Sea, news agency AFP reports.

The exhibition includes what the museum says are ‘spectacular archaeological finds’, including gold items, a scabbard and a ceremonial helmet, and countless precious gems.

The items came from five museums in Ukraine, four of which are now under the control of Russia. Ukraine has also demanded the return of the works.

The Netherlands does not recognise Russia’s annexation of Crimea.

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