Pro-Russian museum in occupied Crimea is under EU sanctions

The new package of anti-Russian sanctions imposed by the European Union includes a museum-reserve in Sevastopol, which is under the control of the Russian Federation. The sanctions also affected the Russian shadow fleet and aim to strengthen the fight against hybrid threats and protect human rights.

This was reported by Krym.Realii.

The EU has included the Chersonese Tavriya Museum-Reserve in Sevastopol in the sanctions list because of its role in spreading pro-Russian propaganda and supporting Russia's military actions against Ukraine.

According to the document, after the annexation of Crimea, the museum has been actively spreading pro-Russian versions of the cultural significance of the artifacts and excavation sites it manages.

After the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the museum used its platform to support the war, including organizing supplies to the front. Therefore, the State Museum-Reserve "Chersonesos Tavriya" is responsible for actions and policies that undermine the territorial integrity of Ukraine.

According to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas, the sanctions also cover almost 200 vessels of the Russian shadow fleet and are aimed at combating hybrid threats and protecting human rights.

The Chersonesos Tavriya Museum-Reserve is located in Sevastopol and was a state institution of Ukraine subordinated to the Ministry of Culture before the annexation of Crimea in 2014. After the occupation, control over it passed to the Russian authorities. Since then, the museum has become not only a cultural object but also a tool of Russian propaganda.

Ukrainian and international experts have repeatedly expressed concern about the militarization of the cultural space of Crimea and the use of historical monuments to justify the occupation.

Sanctions against the aggressor country were supposed to serve as a punishment-a clear political and economic response to its crimes. But with every year of war, they are increasingly turning into a bargaining chip or a source of profit. According to Inna Ukhanova, head of the Department of International Economic Relations at Odesa National Economic University, in a commentary for Intent, such schemes allow Russia to make considerable profits - goods change their country of origin, which makes it much more difficult to track them.

Анна Бальчінос