Scientists from the Hermitage have been charged with looting a Crimean archaeological site

<span><span><span><span><span><span>Two participants in illegal archaeological expeditions in occupied Crimea have been notified that they are under investigation for conducting illegal excavations at the "Medieval Solkhat Settlement" archaeological site in Staryi Krym. They face up to 12 years in prison.</span></span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span><span>This was reported by the Prosecutor’s Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol.</span></span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span><span>According to the investigation, a research fellow at the State Hermitage Museum and a representative of the so-called “Institute of Archaeology of Crimea of the Russian Academy of Sciences” were involved in illegal excavations on the territory of the peninsula. As a result of these activities, the cultural layer of the 13th–14th-century site was partially destroyed. </span></span></span></span></span></span>

<span><span><span><span><span><span>The archaeological artifacts found—including elements of an ancient water supply system, glazed bowls, and fragments of ceramic tableware—were partially transferred to the State Hermitage Museum. Russia subsequently included them in the State Catalog of its own museum collection.</span></span></span></span></span></span>

Earlier, the occupiers excavated new structures from the ancient urban settlement on the territory of Chersonesos Taurica in the temporarily occupied Crimea. The invaders also discovered new artifacts at the site of the ancient city, which have not yet been analyzed.

According toVadim Maiko, director of the Russian-controlled Instituteof Archaeologyof Crimea of the Russian Academy of Sciences, the invaders also explored the Kruse Basilica—a Christian monument located within the ancient city. 

Mayko had previously reported on six illegal archaeological expeditions conducted in occupied Crimea. These excavations are being carried out at ancient and medievalsiteswithout Ukraine’s permission, which constitutes a violation of international law.

Юлія Калабайда