We Will Return the Scythian Gold, Then Crimea: Zelensky Posts

The Amsterdam Court of Appeal has decided to return the Scythian gold collection from the museums of annexed Crimea to Ukraine, which is currently located in the Netherlands. Thus, the court has confirmed the previous decision made by the district administrative court of the capital of the Netherlands on December 14, 2016.

The exhibition titled "Crimea: The Gold Island in the Black Sea" was held at Amsterdam's Allard Pierson Museum from February 7 to August 31, 2014, and consisted of exhibits from four museums in Crimea and one in Kyiv.

The Amsterdam Court of Appeal has ruled that the Allard Pierson Museum must transfer the Scythian gold to Ukraine. Although these museum exhibits originate from Crimea and can be considered part of Crimea's cultural heritage, they are also part of Ukraine's cultural heritage, which has existed as an independent state since 1991, according to the court's ruling.

Since Russia's annexation of the peninsula, a dispute has emerged over whether to return the exhibits to Crimea or to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the decision to return the gold. "Ukraine's long-awaited victory in the Amsterdam court: the Scythian gold will return to Ukraine. We always bring back what is ours. First, we will return the Scythian gold, and then Crimea," he wrote on Twitter.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also commented on the decision in a similar spirit. "This is a significant victory. International law is not fast, but it is inevitable. All Russian fakes, manipulations, and attempts to deceive the court have failed. Just as we returned the Scythian gold, we will also return our people to our occupied territories," Kuleba told reporters.

Rob Meyer, a lawyer for the museums of Crimea, told the press that the Crimean museums could appeal to the Supreme Court of the Netherlands. According to TASS, this could take place within three months, during which time the Scythian gold will not be transferred to Ukraine, but will remain in the Netherlands pending further discussions at the Supreme Court.

The Russian authorities have described this decision as politicized. "The enforcement of this decision represents a gross violation of the right of the Crimean people to access their own cultural heritage, which was guaranteed by a number of international legal acts," said Alexander Molokhov, an employee of Crimea's permanent representation.